Associations Between the Oral and Intestinal Microbiome and Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration

Associations Between the Oral and Intestinal Microbiome and Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration and the Investigation on the Effect of Oral Probiotics as a Treatment - A Pilot Study

A pilot study for Associations between the oral and intestinal microbiome and neovascular age-related macular degeneration and the investigation on the effect of oral probiotics as a treatment

The investigators recruit the neovascular AMD patients and control patients.

1. 15 neovascular AMD patients with anti-VEGF treatment and oral probiotics supplement
2. 15 neovascular AMD patients with anti-VEGF treatment and no oral probiotics supplement
3. 15 control patients and no oral probiotics supplement

The investigators will collect stool, blood, and saliva sample at the baseline and 6 months, and analyze the oral and intestinal microbiome changes.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Normal BMI patients
• Diagnosed as neovascular AMD (experimental & sham group)
• Normal patients (control group)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Obese (BMI > 30)
• Past surgical history involving intestinal diseases
• Previous oral antibiotic treatment before 1 week at the baseline enroll
• Previous oral probiotics supplement
• Previous ophthalmic retinal diseases except neovascular AMD