AMD (Age-Related Macular Degeneration) is a progressive disease that impacts your central vision while leaving peripheral (side) vision unaffected. Regular eye exams should be scheduled in order to detect changes in your eyesight as early as possible.

Early stages of dry ARMD can be treated effectively with high doses of vitamins and minerals; however, treating wet ARMD requires a different strategy.

Anti-angiogenic drugs

The retina is a delicate paper-thin tissue located at the back of your eye that transmits visual signals to the brain. It contains millions of light-sensing cells known as macula cells that enable central vision for reading, driving and computer use. With wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD), abnormal blood vessels under the retina may leak fluid causing sudden vision loss resulting in sudden loss.

Scientists have developed anti-angiogenic drugs, which work by blocking molecules in the body that promote new blood vessel formation – similar to chemotherapy drugs in their impact against cancerous growth but without adversely impacting normal cells. These medications could restore vision lost from wet AMD patients.

These drugs are administered via direct eye injection and have proven most successful when administered early on in wet AMD, as they help slow its progression and can even help restore some lost vision in some patients.

Wet AMD is most often caused by abnormal blood vessels forming under the retina and bleeding, unlike dry AMD which forms from deposits called drusen under it. People living with wet AMD are at higher risk of advanced forms and more rapid vision loss compared to those who have dry forms of AMD; symptoms for wet AMD include sudden decreases in color intensity, visual distortions or blind spots appearing suddenly within your field of vision.

Tests exist to help identify wet macular degeneration. Your doctor may use optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiography to detect leaky blood vessels under your retina; during this test a yellow dye injected into your arm and photographed as it travels through retinal blood vessels via OCT camera. Another form of wet AMD testing available to doctors is fundus fluorescein angiography in which another yellow dye will be injected and photographed as it travels along your blood vessels and into retinal blood vessels with special cameras like OCT cameras taking photos while moving through them using fundus fluorescein angiography cameras as it passes.

Laser surgery

Your eye doctor may recommend photocoagulation surgery as a means to eliminate new blood vessels that form due to wet macular degeneration, potentially helping reduce vision loss. Furthermore, this treatment could increase quality-of-life benefits by decreasing need for glasses or contact lenses; though keep in mind this surgery cannot restore central vision nor halt further vision loss.

Wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels begin to form beneath your retina at the back of your eye and leak fluid into it, dislodging your macula from its usual position and blurring vision – sometimes making it hard to see straight ahead.

These new blood vessels can appear anywhere on your eye, with the greatest risk in areas where macula damage has taken place. Wet AMD is often responsible for central vision loss. Furthermore, its effects can lead to rapid declines in eyesight.

Wet AMD can be treated using an eyedrop injected through an AREDS (age-related eye disease study) medication, which works by binding to chemicals that stimulate abnormal blood vessel formation. This initial step helps reduce vision loss while offering hope of improvement for some patients living with wet AMD.

Another innovative treatment for wet AMD is nanosecond laser therapy. This fast laser can cause less retinal damage and may be safer than older methods; its effects are currently being tested in a large clinical trial.

Your ophthalmologist should help determine whether this treatment is right for you. Make sure that you inform them about any other health problems, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Also inform him or her of any previous eye injuries or illnesses you’ve suffered from; some medications, like aspirin or blood thinners may need to be stopped prior to having the procedure completed; afterward you should ask someone from your family or friend group to drive you home from this appointment as you will not be allowed behind the wheel afterward.

Vitamins and minerals

Though there is no cure for dry macular degeneration, its progression can be reduced with high dose vitamins and zinc supplements recommended by your ophthalmologist. There are also new therapies being investigated to combat both forms of AMD such as magnifying lenses which magnify images on retina to improve vision as well as treatments to limit fluid leakage from new blood vessels in eye.

Vitamins are essential vitamins that the body requires in order to function and remain in good health, found both naturally in foods as well as via supplementation. Minerals, on the other hand, are inorganic substances which regulate bodily processes without providing energy; such minerals include calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, sodium and potassium in quantities greater than 5 grams in our bodies.

Studies have demonstrated the role of diet and vitamin supplements in maintaining eye health, particularly with dry AMD. One such research project called AREDS (Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treatment Study) indicated that those who consumed more antioxidants and zinc supplements were less likely to progress into advanced AMD than those taking less or none at all.

Zinc and other minerals found within the eyes may help to decrease night blindness and slow AMD progression, according to some studies. Fish oil supplements or eating food rich in omega-3 fatty acids could also prove helpful.

Photodynamic therapy may help treat wet macular degeneration by dissolving abnormal blood vessels and preventing leakage or bleeding under the retina. It works by inhibiting an enzyme responsible for creating abnormal vessels.

Your ophthalmologist can perform an imaging test called optical coherence tomography angiography that produces highly detailed pictures of the retina and macula, including new blood vessels or changes in thickness of macula, which will enable him or her to use this data to help decide whether photodynamic therapy would be beneficial in your case. The procedure takes only minutes in an office environment and is pain-free. A special laser light illuminates inside your eye while an imaging device takes a scan of your macula for analysis.

Other treatments

Regular comprehensive eye examinations and careful monitoring can be instrumental in detecting early signs of AMD. Our doctors will evaluate your condition and provide recommendations to delay or even restore lost vision.

Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is a condition in which there is a gradual loss of central vision – essential for reading, driving, using computers/smartphones/recognizing faces/colors etc. and performing other daily activities like using smartphones etc. Over time it may lead to difficulty performing daily activities and eventually dependence on others to help with everyday tasks as well as complete blindness in one or both eyes.

There are two forms of AMD: dry and wet. The former progresses slowly and only affects the central macula while wet forms are marked by abnormal blood vessels leaking fluid into the retina resulting in severe vision loss or blindness if left untreated. Both forms of AMD can result in legal blindness if left untreated.

Researchers conducted a recent study, published in Journal of Ophthalmology, to analyze 914 living patients who participated in CATT follow-up studies. They invited these patients back to one of their CATT clinical centers for examination including dilation of eye exam, visual acuity testing by examiners blind to treatment assignment and retinal photos and optical coherence tomography (OCT) assessments graded by blind graders.

Anti-VEGF injections were found to be highly successful at slowing the progression of neovascular AMD, and even restored vision in some instances. This proves that AMD does not necessarily lead to blindness. Furthermore, diet rich in Omega-3 very long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (VLC-PUFA) may also help slow its progress; anyone over age 60 should include fish and leafy green vegetables as sources of VLC-PUFA; those experiencing sudden changes to vision should visit our office immediately so we can assess for its presence.