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Age-related macular degeneration(ARMD)is a major cause of irreversible loss of central vision in the elderly. Typical characteristics of ARMD consist of retinal pigment epithelium(RPE), degenerative changes of choroidal capillaries and vitreous warts in macular area. Clinical ARMD is divided into two subtypes: non effusive(dry or atrophic)and effusive(wet or neovascular). The occurrence of the disease is the result of the interaction of many factors, such as age, environment, heredity, smoking, oxidative stress and cardiovascular dysfunction, etc. In view of the important role of RPE cells in pathogenesis of ARMD, the effects and possible mechanisms of blue light, smoking, oxidative stress, lipofuscin accumulation, chronic inflammation and protein homeostasis on the onset of dry ARMD are summarized by focusing on RPE cells. This will provide new ideas to help understand and prevent the occurrence of dry ARMD.