The macula of your retina provides clear central vision that enables you to see fine details and colors clearly, yet when damaged by dry AMD it becomes blurry and can result in blurred central vision.

Wet macular degeneration occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow beneath the retina and leak fluid or blood into it, leading to rapid loss of central vision.

Anti-VEGF Drugs

Anti-VEGF injections, often known as intraocular injections, are an essential treatment for wet AMD. By blocking new blood vessel formation that leaks fluid into the retina and compromises vision, these intraocular injections prevent further vision damage and impairment.

VEGF, or Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, is a natural protein produced by cells within our bodies to stimulate new blood vessel formation in response to injury or disease. When overproduced, however, this protein can result in abnormal new blood vessel development in retina and other parts of eye which leads to leaky and bleeding blood vessels, leading to reduced vision. Anti-VEGF medications inhibit production and form new vessels without encouraging leakage through inhibiting new vessel formation thus slowing or stopping fluid loss associated with wet macular degeneration and thus slowing or stopping leakage and decreasing visual loss associated with wet macular degeneration.

There are four anti-VEGF medications currently approved to treat neovascular AMD: bevacizumab (Avastin), ranibizumab (Lucentis), aflibercept (Eylea), and pegaptanib (Macugen). All four drugs have been shown to significantly improve visual acuity in patients suffering from pathologic choroidal neovascularization as measured by OCT scan changes to macular thickness or central retinal thickness, as well as regularly injecting anti-VEGF drugs is effective at slowing macular edema associated with wet AMD.

But it remains unknown whether an intensive regimen of anti-VEGF drug therapy will provide better long-term visual outcomes. Studies suggest that prolonged inhibition of VEGF signaling could impair retinal and choroidal endothelial cell survival, leading to atrophy of photoreceptors (particularly cones) and ultimately worsening vision over time. Furthermore, eye drops containing VEGF inhibitors may cross over the blood-retina barrier and enter systemic circulation, inhibit serum VEGF levels and even cause thromboembolic adverse events.

To limit progression of disease, it is vitally important to lead a healthy diet and lifestyle, including eating plenty of dark green vegetables rich in lutein and zeaxanthin as well as fruits, nuts, and fish that contain omega-3 fatty acids. Smoking must also be avoided while appropriate sun protection must also be used on eyes.

Laser Surgery

Wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels form beneath the retina and leak blood and fluid, creating scar tissue beneath. This damage to central vision may become permanent.

10-15% of those diagnosed with AMD have the wet form, which can quickly progress and lead to dramatic vision changes within a short timeframe. Wet AMD differs from dry form in that it can cause blind patches in both eyes that won’t impact peripheral vision; early treatment could help stop its progression further. Therefore it is vital that any change in your vision be addressed immediately with medical advice as it could indicate early AMD progression and could prevent further disease development.

Wet macular degeneration (wet AMD) can be treated using injections of drugs known as anti-VEGF injections directly into the eye. High levels of the growth factor called Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) promote an overgrowth of blood vessels within the retina that then leak and cause swelling resulting in rapid vision loss – potentially the initial sign of wet AMD.

Your ophthalmologist will administer medication directly into your eye to reduce leakage and improve vision. This outpatient procedure usually lasts 15 minutes and uses laser instead of scalpels as it’s more accurate in targeting abnormal blood vessels while protecting healthy tissue. Following surgery, follow-up appointments will need to be scheduled postoperatively.

Our UF Health ophthalmologists are on the forefront of research for age-related macular degeneration and offer the latest treatments available. Your doctor will assess your individual needs and suggest an individualized plan of care.

Eating healthy and exercising regularly are both key ways of slowing the progression of eye conditions, so make sure that a full eye exam is scheduled every year for best results.

Fluorescein Angiography

Fluorescein angiography is an eye exam which uses special dye injected into a patient’s arm to show blood vessels behind their retina. Once in, this dye absorbs blue light with visible radiation to illuminate retinal blood vessels and allow doctors to take photographs of them, enabling diagnosis of conditions like wet macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy where abnormal vessel leakage exists. At Colorado Retina Center we offer both traditional fluorescein angiography as well as ultrawidefield fluorescein angiography which provides even better insights into treatable vascular conditions than standard fluorescein angiography alone.

Wet macular degeneration (WMD), an advanced form of AMD that affects central vision, occurs when new blood vessels form beneath the retina and begin leaking fluid, interfering with how well the macula functions. Symptoms may include blurry or dimmed central vision; straight lines appear wavy or bent; colors seem less bright; light-sensing cells in the macula have broken down for reasons still unknown – though researchers speculate it could be related to factors like thin maculae as well as family histories, smoking high cholesterol levels or obesity among others.

Anti-angiogenic injections may not provide a permanent cure for wet AMD, but they can slow its progression significantly while potentially improving vision. Anti-angiogenic agents are administered via subconjunctival injection every 4-6 weeks with needle.

Anti-VEGF injections into the eye have proven highly successful at slowing wet macular degeneration progression and improving visual acuity, and should be given every 4-6 weeks as intravitreal injections or as a pill taken twice daily; studies have demonstrated this treatment’s success at slowing its progress significantly.

Optical Coherence Tomography

Optic coherence tomography (OCT) is an invaluable diagnostic tool for eye diseases. This cross-sectional image of the retina, along with any distortions caused by conditions like macular edema, allows health care providers such as ophthalmologists and optometrists to monitor patients with AMD or retinal diseases more accurately and assess any changes.

Researchers from UF Health continue their investigations of AMD and how best to prevent its progression into advanced stages. Studies have shown that supplementing with antioxidants and zinc at higher dosage may delay progression to intermediate stage AMD and help preserve vision for some people with AMD. National Eye Institute’s Age-Related Macular Degeneration Study (AREDS) has also proven this, showing taking these particular high dose formulations can prevent loss of central vision caused by AMD.

AMD can be split into two distinct forms, dry and wet AMD. In its dry form, yellow deposits known as drusen can accumulate beneath the retina without leading to vision loss – however they could signal increased risk for wet AMD progression and should be detected during a comprehensive dilated eye exam with your eye care professional.

With wet AMD, abnormal blood vessels grow beneath the retina and begin leaking fluid or bleeding into the macula, increasing risk of permanent blindness more rapidly than with dry AMD. Early detection is key to stopping wet AMD from progressing further to advanced stage; early treatment with anti-VEGF medications (bevacizumab, ranibizumab, pegaptanib or aflibercept) can slow new vessel formation while decreasing vision loss risk among people suffering from wet AMD.

Many factors increase your risk for AMD, including family history, age, smoking, obesity and ethnicity. People with a family history of macular degeneration are more prone to the condition; women are particularly at risk. Light-skinned eyes have an increased risk when compared with dark ones. Other risk factors for the disease may include cardiovascular disease in family members; smoking; exposure to sunlight as well as genetic predisposition.