Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive condition that attacks central vision. It occurs when light-sensitive tissues of your retina (macula) start degrading over time; AMD is the leading cause of blindness among people aged over 50.

AMD comes in two forms – dry and wet. Wet AMD occurs when new blood vessels sprout beneath the retina and leak fluid beneath it, compromising vision.

Visudyne

Visudyne, approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), affects about 10% of those over the age of 50. It involves abnormal blood vessels leaking fluid that causes retinal cells to die off, leading to blurred and distorted central vision resulting from new vessels that form called choroidal neovascularization, or CNV; Visudyne has been approved to treat both forms of AMD, but most effectively against wet disease.

Visudyne works by attaching to molecules in the eye. A laser light then activates Visudyne to vaporize abnormal blood vessels causing vision loss from wet macular degeneration, as well as destroy retinal cells killed from fluid leakage, thus greatly improving reading, driving and facial recognition capabilities. Furthermore, advanced AMD patients may find partial restoration of lost vision thanks to this treatment option.

Utilizing Visudyne medication is simple. Your physician will inject it directly into your eye before activating it with a non-thermal laser to absorb abnormal blood vessels and destroy them. After the procedure, however, you must remain out of direct sunlight and bright indoor light for five days so as to inactivate Visudyne and protect your vision.

Effects from taking this drug may include pain at the injection site, decreased vision and redness in your eye. You should discuss these potential adverse reactions with your physician prior to beginning treatment. As an alternative option for wet macular degeneration treatment, anti-VEGF drugs could also help. These work by blocking proteins responsible for abnormal blood vessel formation in your eyes; several such medications have already been approved by FDA such as Macugen, Avastin and Lucentis.

Anti-VEGF Drugs

VEGF protein is essential in the formation of new blood vessels and wound healing, but too much production of this molecule has been linked with certain eye conditions such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and retinal vein occlusion. Anti-VEGF injections help block abnormal vessel growth and fluid leakage into the eye thus protecting vision loss and maintaining eye health.

At present, monthly or bimonthly injections are the standard treatment for wet age related macular degeneration (neovascular or atrophic AMD). The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends anti-VEGF therapy for people with best corrected visual acuity of 6/96 or worse – these drugs, known as neovascularization-inhibiting agents or anti-angiogenic agents – block the growth of unhealthy blood vessels in the macula while slowing their leakage of fluid that could cause severe vision loss within two years.

However, injections can be a burden for patients. Many may neglect visiting their physician as often as needed for treatments and worsened vision as a result of missed visits and missed doses – not to mention expensive medications that require careful administration and administration.

Studies conducted on patients receiving anti-VEGF treatment could safely discontinue it without suffering vision loss, underlining the importance of tailored approaches in patient management. Published in Ophthalmology journal, this research focused on those enrolled in a clinical trial to test how well vision was maintained using an FDA approved continuous delivery system for ranibizumab (Lucentis and Aflibercept).

Sodhi and her colleagues conducted an exhaustive investigation of 106 individuals with neovascular AMD. They tested both retinal fluid levels of VEGF as well as blood VEGF levels to see which patients could discontinue anti-VEGF medications and enjoy better visual acuity with less fluid in their retinas than those needing regular monthly injections of anti-VEGFs. Their follow up study two years later confirmed this trend; thus providing evidence of sustained results over time.

Vitamins and Minerals

No cure currently exists for either form of age-related macular degeneration; however, you can reduce its progression through nutritional supplements and lifestyle modifications. Studies have demonstrated that higher intakes of certain nutrients, particularly zinc and copper can decrease progression to advanced AMD; consuming lots of fruit and vegetables along with avoiding smoking and excessive sunlight exposure is also key.

The Age Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) research has demonstrated that certain vitamins may slow the progression of dry age-related macular degeneration. This combination included Vitamin C and E, Lutein Zeaxanthin, and Zinc; all these components are available as multivitamin supplements as well. Many individuals living with AMD take daily multivitamin supplements in addition to taking the specific AREDS formulation.

Research has demonstrated that antioxidant pigments lutein and zeaxanthin, when taken as supplements, reduce the rate of progression to wet age-related macular degeneration by improving macular pigmentation, which protects retina from sunlight damage. Studies also indicate a decrease in macular fluid leakage associated with neovascular AMD.

Bevacizumab, an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor (anti-VEGF), may help slow the progression of wet AMD. This medication works by blocking VEGF activity; this protein causes abnormal blood vessels to form in the eye and leak fluid into the macula, so its disruption must be blocked in order for us to see an improvement in symptoms. Bevacizumab should be given by injection regularly.

Finding all of the vitamins and minerals essential for good health through a regular diet can be challenging; therefore it’s wise to make wise choices. Harvard Medical School’s new Special Health Report: Making Sense of Vitamins and Minerals offers guidance in doing just this by providing information about which foods provide each nutrient best, along with when and if going over Recommended Dietary Allowances is permissible.

Laser Treatments

Lasers are powerful sources of light energy. Their light beam travels in one direction, cutting, sealing and vaporizing tissue as it goes. What differentiates lasers from non-laser sources of illumination is their single color wavelength beam of light which can be very precisely focused.

Lasers can be an effective treatment option for age related macular degeneration by targeting unhealthy blood vessels or pigment cells (coloration) in the retina that cause leakage or damage, or treating abnormal new vessel growth under the retina that allows fluid or blood to leak out into the macula, leading to vision loss and blindness. They may also be utilized in treating wet macular degeneration’s root cause – abnormal new vessel growth known as neovascularization which leads to fluid or blood leaking into it from these new vessels under retina that causes fluid or blood leakage into macula leading to vision loss and blindness.

Wet macular degeneration develops much more rapidly than its dry counterpart, leading to rapid loss of central vision. It is caused by new abnormal blood vessels called choroidal neovascularization forming under the retina which are then broken open causing bleeding and leakage which in turn causes serious loss of vision resulting in blind spots within days if left untreated.

At present, there is no cure for wet AMD; however, treatment may slow its progression. Regular examinations with an Amsler grid should be used to track its development.

Some forms of wet macular degeneration can be treated with drugs or laser surgery, both of which aim to block an important chemical in the body that leads to new blood vessel growth under the retina. Such anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatments include Eylea (aflibercept), Lucentis (ranibizumab) and Avastin (bevacizumab), which must be injected directly into the eye for best results; multiple injections over time may be required, and any results may not be permanent.

Over 80 million Americans suffer from unsightly, painful varicose and spider veins in their legs or face that cannot be addressed using sclerotherapy. Laser therapy offers another solution by heating the vein lining with high-powered beams of light, sealing off its blood supply, and eventually dissolving it completely.