Macular degeneration affects only your central vision – the sharpest part of your sight – without altering peripheral (side) vision.

Wet macular degeneration occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow within the choroid layer underlying the retina and leak blood and fluid under the macula, producing blurry or distorted straight-ahead vision.

Causes

Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive condition that leads to blurring in your central vision, making activities that require clear vision such as reading or driving more challenging. AMD may cause further vision loss over time. Damage to the macula, a small area at the back of your retina that provides sharp central vision. This part of your eye sees fine details and colors clearly so you can drive, read, recognize faces, or notice details more easily. Macular degeneration does not affect peripheral or side vision and is the leading cause of blindness in those over 60. There are two forms of macular degeneration: dry and wet. In its dry form, light-sensing cells in the macula break down slowly over time leading to gradual vision loss; while abnormal blood vessels form and leak fluid under the retina causing rapid vision loss.

At first, the symptoms of wet macular degeneration will usually present as straight lines that appear wavy as fluid from new blood vessels lifts the macula and causes distortion in your vision. Over time, this could also result in a dark spot appearing at the center of your field of vision that grows larger over time. At the first sign of any change to your vision it is crucial that you visit your physician who can use an Amsler grid chart to detect changes.

There is no cure for wet macular degeneration; however, certain medications can help stop the abnormal blood vessel growth and stop it. Such medicines include bevacizumab, Ranibizumab and Pegaptanib; they should be injected directly into your eye via an injection and they work by blocking proteins responsible for abnormal vessel formation. Laser treatment may be an option in certain instances and uses painless laser light beams to destroy abnormal vessels.

There are various steps you can take to slow the progression of macular degeneration, including eating foods rich in the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin – such as spinach, kale and collard greens – as well as taking nutritional supplements containing these vitamins.

Symptoms

Age related macular degeneration (AMD), an eye disease common among those over 60, destroys central vision, impairing people’s ability to see faces, read, and drive. There are two forms of AMD: dry or wet; both forms involve thinning of the macula; however wet AMD also causes new blood vessels to form under the retina that leak blood and fluid, often leading to sudden blindness in Americans over 50 years old. It remains one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide.

Macular degeneration does not cause pain, with its only noticeable early sign being blurred central vision that worsens over time. When light-sensing cells break down in your macula, they can no longer function correctly and this leads to blurriness that makes details hard to see clearly, especially in low lighting environments. As it worsens further, large central blind spots may form within your field of vision and for those suffering wet macular degeneration fluid from leaking blood vessels can lift it and distort central vision causing distortion within central vision – another telltale sign!

Amsler grid testing can help identify abnormal distortion in your vision caused by macular degeneration. Simply look at a grid from one foot away, focusing on its straight lines to detect any distortions. Self-monitoring after diagnosis with wet AMD is crucial as self-checks can identify changes before doctors do.

If you have been diagnosed with wet macular degeneration, there are treatment options that may slow its progression and improve your vision. One such therapy involves injecting medications directly into the eye to stop new blood vessel growth or leakage – these drugs are known as Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Antagonists such as Bevacizumab, Ranibizumab or Pegaptanib and must be injected directly.

Additionally, it is crucial to eat a diet rich in eye-healthy vitamins and minerals; our team can recommend specific vitamin and mineral supplements that will promote optimal eye health.

Diagnosis

Macular degeneration is an eye condition that affects your central or straight ahead vision, typically leading to blurriness, dark areas, distortion or loss in this region of vision. Although typically not affecting peripheral vision, if left untreated macular degeneration can become serious; your doctor can tailor a treatment plan that’s right for you using medications that prevent vision loss as well as laser therapy treatments as potential solutions.

Wet macular degeneration occurs when abnormal blood vessels form underneath the retina and leak fluid into your central or straight ahead vision, leading to rapid decline. It is a severe form of AMD and more difficult to treat than its dry form.

As part of a home monitoring routine, using an Amsler grid is key to detecting early changes to your vision. If any distortion appears, make an appointment immediately with your eye doctor – regular dilated exams will help to halt progression of macular degeneration and further its progress.

There are medications available to treat wet macular degeneration. When administered subconjunctivally, they inhibit an antibody called vascular endothelial growth factor which stimulates abnormal blood vessel formation associated with wet macular degeneration. Studies indicate that such medications have helped stabilize vision for around 90% of patients while improving it for 30%.

Speak to your eye doctor about lifestyle and diet issues as well. A healthy lifestyle combined with eating plenty of leafy green vegetables may slow the progression of macular degeneration. Furthermore, certain supplements like zinc, copper and vitamins C and E have also proven useful against macular degeneration.

Upon being diagnosed with wet macular degeneration, your doctor will likely recommend pegaptanib to treat it. This medication works by blocking a certain molecule that allows blood vessels to form underneath the retina; although the treatment won’t prevent any further loss of central vision or help preserve straight lines and reading ability.

Treatment

Macular degeneration is an irreversible progressive eye condition that can eventually lead to blindness. While not curable, treatments that may slow vision loss include taking high doses of antioxidant vitamins and minerals; using low vision aids such as large print books, tape-recorded magazines and books, talking clocks and scales; as well as lifestyle aids like eye drops to lower the pressure in the eye.

Age-related macular degeneration comes in two varieties: dry and wet. In the dry form of the disease, central retina (the macula) thins as protein deposits called drusen appear beneath it; these do not cause immediate symptoms but over time they can lead to scar tissue formation causing central vision to blurriness. Wet macular degeneration occurs when new abnormal blood vessels form beneath retina that leak blood and fluid. Untreated this form can quickly lead to severe and rapid vision loss.

Early signs of wet ARMD include a dark spot at the center of your vision and difficulty seeing fine details or colors clearly. Therefore, it is crucial that regular appointments with your eye doctor be scheduled in order to catch this form of macular degeneration when it first begins.

Medication that can be injected directly into the eye or into the fluid surrounding the retina may help halt macular degeneration from worsening, particularly when combined with photodynamic therapy or laser surgery as additional forms of treatment.

Pegaptanib is a medication used to treat wet macular degeneration that works by blocking abnormal blood vessel formation. Although this medication can sometimes cause side effects such as blurred vision and dizziness, it’s essential that users follow doctor-prescribed dosage instructions for taking this drug properly.

Dr. Bhatia is an expert in macular degeneration and offers various treatment options to prevent its progression. To discover more on how he can assist in keeping your vision intact, reach out by phone or book an appointment online today!