OBJECTIVES: Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a disorder of the central area of the retina resulting in a significant loss of visual acuity. AMD is the leading cause of incurable blindness and visual impairment in industrialized countries. Consequently AMD leads to decrease of Quality of Life (QoL) and increased health care costs. For the Netherlands no information on the burden of AMD was available. The main aim of this study was to assess the burden of AMD patients in the Netherlands in terms of health care costs and QoL from a societal perspective. METHODS: AMD cost parameters were identified and the ‘AMD cost and impact questionnaire’ was developed. Members of the Dutch Macular Degeneration Patient Organization with a disease severity ranging from normal vision to legally blind were invited to enter the study during regional meetings. The EuroQol 5D was used for measuring QoL. Data on resource use and QoL were collected through telephone interviews.  RESULTS: Seventy-five patients completed the questionnaire. The average total annual cost for AMD was €5651 per person (95% CI: 4252 - 7051). Home help was the major cost component (€2507 p.p.). Total costs were significantly higher for individuals with more severe AMD and the QoL significantly lower for individuals with more severe AMD (P<0.05). The average utility of AMD was 0.792 (95% CI: 0.771-0.812) significantly lower than the average 50+ Dutch population (0.850). The respondents reported ‘usual activities’ as the area with the most problems. CONCLUSIONS: Increased visual impairment leads to significantly higher annual costs and lower overall QoL.