Since the discovery of fluorescein angiography much progress has been made in the field of retinal imaging. For age-related macular degeneration in particular, the scientific and clinical communities are facing a revolution in diagnostic tools. Confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy and spectral domain optical coherence tomography have enabled the non-invasive visualization of the natural history of a disease. With the advent of adaptive optics it is now also possible to resolve the fine structure of the photoreceptor mosaic, giving new perspective to the understanding of future potential therapeutic strategies.