Macular degeneration is a degenerative condition of the macula in the retina that gradually weakens central vision, most commonly among people aged 50 or above. Early signs may include blurry central vision or dark spots at the center of your field of vision.

Low vision aids can make daily activities simpler for those with impaired eyesight. Laser treatment may also be used to eliminate abnormal leaking blood vessels.

Injections

Injections are an effective treatment for age-related macular degeneration in its wet form, known as wet macular degeneration (wamd). This form occurs when abnormal blood vessels sprout under the retina and begin leaking fluids that damage macula cells and can eventually lead to legal blindness if unchecked. Avastin, Lucentis and Eylea medications help block this growth of abnormal blood vessels, saving vision in thousands of people who would have otherwise gone legally blind without them.

Studies suggest that some individuals living with wet AMD may eventually be able to stop receiving anti-VEGF injections and still maintain their vision. Researchers followed 106 patients taking these medications and observed changes in how their blood vessels responded to VEGF; although this change wasn’t indicative of improvement in vision, it did mean patients could potentially stop their regular injections without further damage to the retina.

Researchers cautioned that their study was only preliminary, and further randomized clinical trials will need to be completed in order to accurately determine when one can safely discontinue anti-VEGF injections. If anyone considering discontinuing treatment should do so under medical supervision as discontinuing could result in serious ocular complications that include eye infection, retinal haemorrhage or detachment of retinas.

VISUDYNE (brolucizumab) is a monoclonal antibody designed to target vascular endothelial growth factor, a protein in the body which promotes blood vessel growth that leaks fluid into retina and causes macular degeneration. As the first FDA-approved treatment for wet macular degeneration‘s leaky blood vessels, VISUDYNE has helped some individuals improve vision with wet AMD. The study was funded by National Institutes of Health and Foundation for Research on Macular Disease. All authors declared no conflicts of interest between themselves or any possible conflicts of interests between themselves and any author(s).

Photodynamic Therapy

Macular degeneration, an eye condition affecting the macula (the part of retina that allows you to clearly perceive fine details such as reading and driving) at the back of your eye, can significantly impair central vision and make everything appear blurry or distorted. Macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of severe vision loss among Americans over 60 and comes in two varieties – dry age-related macular degeneration and wet age-related macular degeneration. Dry macular degeneration tends to progress slowly and is less severe than wet macular degeneration, which may progress more quickly and cause greater vision loss. Both conditions feature symptoms similar to one another: blurred central vision, dark or missing spots within vision fields and difficulty seeing fine detail.

Wet age-related macular degeneration occurs when abnormal blood vessels form under the macula and leak fluid and blood into it, causing it to rise from its usual position on the retina and lead to distortion in straight-ahead vision. This form of AMD should be treated immediately if you detect sudden changes in your vision.

Anti-angiogenic agents may help stop the expansion of new blood vessels and thus protect vision loss by slowing or stopping their development, including injections directly into the eye such as Avastin (anti-VEGF). Such medications help impede leaky vessel development while also maintaining central vision; however, the need for regular or bimonthly injections may pose as an impediment to treatment for some patients.

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) employs photosensitizers and light to destroy neovascularization associated with wet macular degeneration. Light-sensitive dyes activated via injection are exposed to laser light for use as laser therapy treatment and damage abnormal blood vessels that leak fluid and blood. PDT has proven itself an effective form of treatment, producing greater visual recovery than thermal laser photocoagulation treatments.

Laser Treatment

Macular degeneration affects the macula on the retina in the back of the eye and is responsible for sharp central vision. Over time, as macular degeneration worsens it may lead to loss of straight-ahead sight but should not negatively impact color or peripheral (side) vision. Although no cure exists yet for macular degeneration there are treatments available which slow its progress and improve quality of life for many patients.

Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) can be divided into two distinct forms, dry and wet. Dry ARMD is by far the more prevalent form, occurring when macula thins with age and tiny protein clumps called drusen form under it, eventually leaking blood and fluid and raising macula from its normal position on retina, distorting straight-ahead vision or creating blind spots within your field of vision. Early symptoms for dry ARMD typically do not cause pain – early signs include blurred central vision or wavy appearance of straight lines when looking at straight ahead. Wet form is more severe but usually does not produce pain – early symptoms include blurred central vision or even straight lines having an uneven quality to them that leads directly ahead when looking straight ahead or an unusual appearance to straight lines when looking ahead a blind spot develops within your field of vision causing distortion of straight ahead vision or blind spots within your field of vision causing distortion when looking ahead while looking straight ahead as you might ARMD does not usually present pain- early symptoms include blurred central vision or even straight lines becoming wavy appearing straight ahead.

Wet macular degeneration is less prevalent but more serious. When compared with its dry form, wet degeneration progresses faster and can even cause blindness. When this condition arises, abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina and leak blood and fluid that distort straight-ahead vision, eventually leading to blindness.

Anti-vascular endothelial growth factors, or VEGFs, have proven instrumental in treating wet macular degeneration (AMD). When administered intravitreally, these medications block new blood vessel formation that causes wet AMD. They have saved thousands of patients who otherwise would have gone blind without them.

Laser therapy is another means to treat wet macular degeneration. A laser beam targets areas where abnormal blood vessels have formed under the retina. Treatment consists of several steps. First, an anesthetic drops are applied before using laser therapy on those blood vessels that cause wet macular degeneration.

Although macular degeneration cannot be reversed, early detection and regular visits to your doctor can help slow its progression. Lifestyle aids may make adapting easier, such as hand-held magnifying glasses, tape-recorded books or magazines, large print playing cards, talking scales and clocks and systems using video cameras for magnifying printed material.

Surgery

Macular degeneration, also known as macular atrophy, is a breakdown in the macula on the retina which leads to blurry or hazy central vision in people aged over 50, and one of the primary causes of blindness in older people. There are two forms: dry or wet – with wet progressing more rapidly and leading to more serious damage. While researchers still search for a cure for macular degeneration, there are various treatments which may stop its occurrence or even reverse vision loss in some patients.

Dry macular degeneration (ARMD) is characterized by yellow deposits called drusen under the retina that form over time, signaling its progression. Although its progression is slow, ARMD can ultimately lead to legal blindness for up to one quarter of sufferers.

Wet ARMD is an increasingly severe and rapidly progressing form of the condition. This occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow beneath the retina and leak fluid into it, scarring retinal tissue and leading to permanent vision loss.

Laser therapy and injecting medications that inhibit angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels), such as anti-VEGF therapies such as Bevacizumab, Ranibizumab and Pegaptanib can be effective treatments for wet macular degeneration (ARMD). They may even stop vision loss while improving it in some patients suffering from wet AMDD.

Injections of these drugs may also be combined with photodynamic therapy in order to treat blood vessels below the retina. This procedure uses the photosensitization dye verteporfin injected into one eye before being exposed to a special laser and destroyed any abnormal vessels which cause wet ARMD; an ocular angiogram photograph will show them.

Wet macular degeneration is the more severe form of macular degeneration and must be treated as an emergency. To detect its early stages, schedule regular exams with our ophthalmologists, and contact them immediately if you experience blurry central vision or any sudden changes to fine details, colors or straight lines – this is the quickest and most efficient way to find help for any vision issues you might be having.