Among all analyzed SNPs, only variants in the C3 gene were associated with higher systemic C3d/C3 ratios which aligns with the results by Hecker et al.11 The alternative pathway of the complement system starts with spontaneous hydrolysis of C3 and variants with a higher risk for AMD seem to influence this part of the complement cascade resulting in elevated systemic complement activation. This evidence concerns the gene C3 and age-related macular degeneration.