Researchers have identified a gene that appears to be linked to the most common form of macular degeneration and in doing so, discovered a promising new treatment may actually be causing the disease in some patients.
A group of researchers studied macular degeneration genes in the lab and in mice.
They found people who had increased activity in a specific receptor had a higher risk for "dry" macular degeneration.
But this receptor is activated in a new treatment for the other form of the disease called wet macular degeneration.
Researchers say while the treatment potentially lowers a patient's risk for one disease it also increases their risk for another.