Macular degeneration is a painless condition that slowly worsens over time and results in the gradual loss of central vision. There are two forms: dry macular degeneration and wet macular degeneration.

GPs and health professionals play an essential role in encouraging individuals to access screening/testing for eye disease, and in making referrals to optometrists/ophthalmologists.

Intravitreal Injections

Intravitreal injections can be an effective treatment option for various retinal conditions, including wet age-related macular degeneration (neovascular AMD), macular edema due to retinal vein occlusion or diabetes, macular edema caused by retinal vein occlusion or diabetes and other eye disorders. Treatment requires injecting medication directly into the back of each eye in order to reach specific targets such as retinal blood vessels or fluid pockets in the retinal layer – depending on which treatment method is being employed – depending on which medication needs can be injected depending on individual circumstances – for wet age-related macular degeneration anti-VEGF medications such as ranibizumab aflibercept or bevacizumab can help slow progression of disease while improving vision overall.

These drugs target the vascular endothelial growth factor responsible for macular edema, such as wet macular degeneration or other retinal conditions like retinal vein occlusions or diabetic macular edema. Macular injections may help significantly decrease fluid build-up in the macula, leading to improved visual acuity; however, this treatment cannot reverse all lost vision; depending on which condition is treated patients will require follow up appointments with doctors to track its progression and receive necessary therapies as required by their condition – either way this type of therapy could play an integral part of management of their condition.

At present, Australia’s only available source for intravitreal injections for wet AMD is private health care providers. Although the PBAC recommended this service as being widely utilized, due to restrictions such as responding positively to previous anti-VEGF therapy and only certain ophthalmologists having the skills and availability needed for administering it.

Ophthalmologists will apply topical anaesthetic prior to administering any injections or surgeries that involve injecting substances directly into the eye, to ensure it does not hurt. Once numbed, they will place a small device which holds open the eye before inserting a needle about 3.5 mm from where cornea meets sclera junction into white part of sclera (sclera). Though discomfort may arise when entering eye, most patients find this experience quite tolerable.

Laser Photocoagulation Therapy

Laser photocoagulation is an eye procedure designed to preserve the retina – the transparent tissue lining the back inner wall of the eye). It seals tiny leakages in the retina, helping prevent vision-threatening fluid macular oedema caused by diabetic retinopathy, while at the same time controlling abnormal blood vessel growth associated with wet macular degeneration.

This procedure is usually performed outpatient using either local or topical anesthetics, so if possible it is important that someone drive you home afterward as your pupils will likely be dilated after treatment. Dark sunglasses would also make an excellent addition for this journey – your vision may temporarily blur, however this should subside over time.

Laser therapy works by emitting pulses of light energy that are absorbed by the retina, stimulating it into producing reactions which clot blood vessels, which then helps reduce risk for macular oedema in wet AMD patients. Furthermore, the laser may help slow vision loss for wet ARMD patients by targeting blood vessels that leak fluid beneath their retina and destroy these.

Non-laser treatments for wet macular degeneration include injecting medicine into your eye to slow the formation of new abnormal blood vessels in the macula, thus lessening chances of central vision improvement while remaining much safer than laser surgery.

Nearly everyone with age-related macular degeneration either suffers from the dry or wet form of this condition. Eighty-five to ninety percent of cases fall under this category, as deposits known as drusen form slowly behind the macula and progress very gradually allowing most patients to still retain reading vision. About 10-15% are classified as wet forms where blood and fluid leak from retinal blood vessels grow underneath macula, leading to vision loss.

If the wet form of this disease progresses unchecked, it can result in rapid loss of vision affecting central and detailed vision alike. While treatments such as injections of Lucentis medication and laser therapy exist to combat it, more effective measures include immediate surgery or other approaches like intraocular lens implants.

Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is an innovative therapy used to treat wet AMD, or age-related macular degeneration. PDT uses verteporfin as an agent against leaky blood vessels in the retina, thus helping prevent vision loss while also treating other eye conditions, such as glaucoma.

Verteporfin is a light-sensitive medicine that must first be injected into the body before it can be used as a part of Photodynamic Therapy (PDT). Once in, this drug reacts with oxygen molecules found in retinal cells and blood vessels to light up cells that leak fluid – making them easier for surgeons to see. A surgeon can then destroy these leaking blood vessels to stop further damage to macula cells as well as further loss of vision in individuals.

Once a lesion has been treated with PDT, healing of cells typically takes approximately seven days for completion. Patients should avoid direct sunlight and wear sunglasses during this period as UV rays can increase retinal damage further following PDT treatment. PDT should only be undertaken for individuals diagnosed with wet macular degeneration who also exhibit classic subfoveal choroidal neovascularisation (CNV).

Numerous drugs and treatments are currently under development to combat macular degeneration. Researchers are working hard to understand its cause as well as ways in which it may be prevented. Many researchers and healthcare practitioners are also striving to enhance existing therapies so that they are as efficient as possible. With proper support, many people with macular degeneration can enjoy a high quality of life while remaining independent, enjoying hobbies and interests unhindered by macular degeneration. Macular degeneration only impacts your central vision – that part of the eye that allows you to see straight ahead – leaving peripheral (side-) vision unaffected. Therefore, peripheral vision can still be used when driving or navigating safely. Left untreated however, macular degeneration could eventually lead to blindness – so early diagnosis and treatment is key in order to preserve peripheral vision for driving or navigation purposes.

Ophthalmic Surgery

Macular degeneration is an eye condition that compromises central vision, required for reading, driving and distinguishing colors. The condition damages the macula located in the center of retina (light-sensitive tissue located behind each eye). Macular degeneration may not be curable, but can be managed with regular examinations and treatment. Symptoms can range from mild blurriness or distortion in vision to total loss of central vision. Disease of the eyes is painless, so most people do not become aware they have it until early signs start disrupting daily activities such as driving or walking. Early symptoms could include dark spots near or in the center of vision; distortion of straight lines; difficulties walking and driving.

Dry and wet AMD are two forms of macular degeneration. As you age, the macular starts to thin as protein deposits called drusen develop on it; this causes you to gradually lose central vision but maintain normal peripheral (side) vision. Wet macular degeneration develops when abnormal blood vessels begin leaking fluid onto retina and raise macula from its usual position on back of retina leading to rapid loss of central vision.

Your ophthalmologist can diagnose macular degeneration through a comprehensive eye exam that includes history taking, slit lamp examination and various vision testing measures. They may also perform special tests like fluorescein angiography to examine blood vessel health; for this test yellow dye is injected into one vein in your arm before being photographed as it travels through blood vessels to retina. Finally Optical coherence tomography (OCT) offers more in-depth images of retina and macula structures.

Macular degeneration cannot be reversed with medications alone; however, treatments like laser photocoagulation and anti-VEGF injections may slow its progress and help treat diabetic macular edema – another complication of macular degeneration which leads to serious vision loss.