AMD may not have a cure, but there are treatments that may slow its progress. A high-dose formulation of antioxidants and zinc can help slow its progression.

Scientists still do not fully understand the exact cause of dry age-related macular degeneration; however, thinning retinal tissue and loss of light sensing cells within the macula may contribute to its progression.

Treatment for Dry AMD

Dry AMD causes the central portion of your vision to blur or become distorted over time. Although not blinding in itself, without treatment this condition may worsen until straight lines appear crooked or wavy; peripheral vision remains unaffected.

Dry AMD is characterized by the formation of yellow deposits under the retina known as drusen that accumulate over time. Their accumulation speeds up progression to wet macular degeneration and leads to loss of pigmented cells that compose retinal pigment epithelium, speeding the progression towards wet AMD. A diet rich in lutein, zeaxanthin and zinc may slow this progression as can nutritional supplements such as vitamins A-E as well as antioxidants which may slow progression further.

Wet macular degeneration (AMD) is characterized by abnormal blood vessels under the retina leaking fluid, leading to subretinal hemorrhage or choroidal neovascularization (NV). Wet AMD tends to progress more quickly than dry AMD and accounts for up to 80% of visual loss and legal blindness among people over 60. Preventative measures for Wet AMD include eating a diet rich in leafy green vegetables, fish, fruits and nuts rich in omega-3 fatty acids along with regular eye exams.

Treatment for wet ARMD typically begins with injections of drugs to inhibit blood vessel growth (Avastin, Lucentis and Eylea). Laser surgery may then be employed alongside these injections to further decrease risk and reverse vision loss.

Retrotope has designed RT011, an isotopically stabilized version of DHA found naturally in fish oil, specifically to treat dry AMD. Preclinical evidence has demonstrated its efficacy at eliminating fuel that drives uncontrolled oxidative stress in retinal cells while protecting photoreceptors in cell models. Retrotope filed an investigational new drug (IND) application and plans on commencing clinical studies with it by 2021 based on promising preclinical data.

Treatment for Heterogeneous Age-Related Macular Degeneration (HRD)

Symptoms may include difficulty seeing fine details (contrast sensitivity), as well as differences in colour or light perception between eyes. This condition is caused by loss of central vision due to the development of neovascular AMD.

Fundus autofluorescence imaging allows noninvasive mapping of both naturally and pathologically occurring fluorophores in the ocular fundus, using quantitative fundus autofluorescence (QAF). A recent software application called quantitative fundus autofluorescence (QAF), provides precise measurement of retinal lipofuscin intensity. In this study, our aim was to investigate if characteristic lesions seen in AMD (hard and soft drusen as well as subretinal drusenoid deposits [SDD]) were associated with focal changes in QAF intensity; our results showed both hard and soft drusen as well as SDD are associated with reduced local QAF intensity primarily caused by redistribution or loss of autofluorescent granules.

Treatment for Advanced Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD)

Age related macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of irreversible vision loss among people over 50, often manifested by gradual blurring due to light sensitive cells deterioration within the macula. While peripheral vision remains unchanged, people typically lose their ability to read, drive and recognize faces as they progress through its various stages.

There are two major types of AMD: dry and wet. Dry AMD is the more prevalent form, caused by waste deposits known as drusen gathering in the retina and eventually leading to central blurring of macula. Wet AMD occurs less commonly and occurs when abnormal blood vessels form under retina resulting in fluid leakage through leaky vessels in back of eye; vision deteriorates much more rapidly with wet AMD.

Wet macular degeneration can be treated by injecting medications directly into the eye to slow its progress. These injections are administered using a fine needle in a doctor’s office while using numbing eyedrops; medication used blocks the growth of abnormal blood vessels; injections are repeated at regular intervals until fluid leakage and new vessel formation have been controlled; some patients may require monthly or bi-monthly injections in order to preserve vision.

Current treatments for wet macular degeneration do not exist, though researchers hope to develop one in time. In the meantime, one way to help slow or even halt its progress would be by adopting healthy lifestyle practices such as not smoking, limiting exposure to sunlight, eating plenty of green vegetables in your diet, and monitoring vision closely.

Remember it is best to attend all scheduled appointments; this will enable your doctor to detect early stages of macular degeneration and help manage its symptoms more effectively.

Treatment for Retinal Vascular Disease (RVD)

The retina is the back of the eye that contains millions of light-sensing cells and serves as the primary source of central vision, essential for reading, driving and seeing fine details. As we age and genetics play their parts, our retinas may begin to degenerate leading to vision loss if left untreated; this condition is known as age related macular degeneration (AMD) with dry AMD occurring when yellow deposits called drusen form under our retina gradually thin it while wet AMD can occur when abnormal blood vessels leak fluid beneath or within our retina causing rapid vision loss if left untreated resulting in complete blindness if untreated; wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow within or beneath our retina resulting in rapid vision loss as opposed to dry AMD where small yellow deposits called drusen form beneath or within it leading to rapid vision loss causing rapid vision loss due to rapid vision loss due to leakage under or within it resulting in rapid vision loss as opposed to gradual vision loss over time causing vision loss over time due to age related macular degeneration (AMD), while dry AMD occurs when small yellow deposits known as drusen form underneath and thin it gradually thin it gradually thin it gradually while with rapid vision loss due to leakage under or within retina and leak fluid from abnormal blood vessels grow leakage through into its core leading it causes rapid vision loss from within itself eventually leading to blindness. There are two types of AMD: dry (dry and wet AMD. Both types) becoming active within retina.

Treatment for wet AMD generally entails monthly intravitreal injections of vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor medications like ranibizumab or brolucizumab to slow its progression and even restore some lost vision in certain patients. Vitamin supplements may also prove helpful; there’s evidence suggesting high doses of antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin may halt its progress.

However, most treatments only help prevent further vision loss – not restore lost sight. Therefore, anyone experiencing symptoms of wet AMD should see an eye care specialist immediately; an eye specialist can order various tests such as dilated eye exams, OCT scanning and Fluorescein angiography to identify any potential damage and restore lost vision.

Faricimab-svoa is an anti-VEGF treatment approved by the FDA to treat wet AMD. Administered intravitreally via injection, this drug blocks vascular endothelial growth factor that causes blood vessels to expand and leak, giving hope that this effective and more cost-efficient option may provide superior visual acuity results than ranibizumab at both 10-6 and 0.075 thresholds; moreover it’s the first FDA-approved wet AMD treatment that offers as few as 2 treatments annually!