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Editor’s note: In this population-based cohort study, 95 people with geographic atrophy were identified – 45% with a single lesion, 18% with multifocal lesions, and 37% with merged lesions. The mean increase in the area of atrophy was greatest in eyes with multiple lesions and least in eyes with single atrophic lesions. Overall, the increase in atrophy was 6.4 mm
2 over a 5-year period in the group of 53 eyes with multiple visits. Those with multiple geographical atrophic patches were most likely to experience progression (83%) and had a mean reduction in vision of 22 letters, whereas in those with single lesions only 22% progressed and the mean reduction in vision was 10 letters.