Age related macular degeneration is a progressive eye condition which leads to blurring of central vision needed for reading, driving and recognising faces – the leading cause of blindness among Americans over 60.

Macular degeneration comes in two forms, dry and wet. With dry macular degeneration, yellow deposits called drusen slowly build up underneath the retina; this form is less serious and progresses more slowly than wet macular degeneration.

Vitamins and Minerals

Macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness among people aged 60 or over, comes in two varieties – dry and wet – that affect the retina and cause central vision loss. While it can progress quickly over time, there are various treatment options to help preserve eyesight in an attempt to preserve eyesight and preserve central vision loss.

Vitamins and minerals play a vital role in eye health. There is evidence that diets rich in these nutrients may slow down dry macular degeneration; additionally, an Age Related Eye Disease Studies (AREDS) clinical trial found that certain vitamins can decrease risk for vision threatening complications by up to 25% from advanced macular degeneration.

People suffering from dry macular degeneration may progress into wet macular degeneration, in which abnormal blood vessels form under the retina in areas affected by drusen and leak fluid and bleed, ultimately destroying retinal cells and leading to vision loss. Treatment for wet macular degeneration involves injecting Visudyne from Novartis directly into one eye in order to block abnormal vessel growth – it is performed quickly at your doctor’s office with virtually no discomfort involved.

There are various dietary supplements that can help increase macular pigment optical density, improving contrast sensitivity and helping with seeing fine detail. These include lutein, alpha-lipoic acid, zinc and vitamin C. Lutein is an eye xanthophyll found in high concentration in the macula of both eyes as well as retina – it acts as an antioxidant filtering UV light while helping protect retinal cell layers against damage as it filters. Unfortunately it cannot be produced within our bodies so must be consumed through food sources or supplements.

Other strategies include quitting smoking and eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and fish that is low in saturated fat and trans-fats; minerals like calcium, folic acid and iron can also play an essential role in supporting eye health. A comprehensive nutritional assessment can give an idea of your current dietary situation as well as ways to improve it.

Fluorescein Angiography

Macular degeneration is a degeneration of the macula (the small area at the back of your retina which allows you to clearly see fine details and perform activities such as reading, driving and threading needles), leading to blurry or dark areas in your central field of vision and making simple tasks such as driving or reading more challenging than before. Macular degeneration is the leading cause of severe vision loss among adults over 50.

90% of people diagnosed with macular degeneration have its “dry” form, which involves deposits under the retina called drusen that slowly thin over time, leading to reduced central vision over time. 10% have more serious “wet” form macular degeneration that progresses quickly due to abnormal blood vessels leaking blood and fluid under retina, potentially leading to sudden and severe vision loss.

Fluorescein angiography is a clinical test used by doctors to gain an in-depth view of blood circulation behind the eye, giving doctors a comprehensive picture of its blood flow in the back of your eye. It is useful for diagnosing many retinal conditions including diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration. Pictures will be taken after injecting fluorescent dye into your bloodstream – once in your retinal vessels this dye will pass through them and can be detected by special ophthalmic cameras; its images then enable doctors to effectively diagnose issues or manage treatment of your condition.

Fluorescein angiography is an extremely safe and painless procedure. A technician will inject dye directly into your arm via a small tube; it will pass through your bloodstream into the retina of your eye, where it will highlight blood vessels in its path. Regular eye examinations are essential, even if vision seems fine; early detection can reduce macular degeneration progression significantly.

Recently, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents have shown promising results in treating wet macular degeneration. When administered intravitreally or sublingually, they help block vascular endothelial growth factor from stimulating abnormal blood vessel formation that occurs as part of this condition.

Optical Coherence Tomography

Macular degeneration is a condition in which the central part of your retina begins to break down, leading to blurry or darkened areas in your vision. This disease specifically targets the macula – the small area at the center of the retina responsible for fine detail vision such as threading needles or reading books – which plays an important role. Treatment options depend on its cause; such as vitamins, diet and exercise regimens, regular eye exams, not smoking and managing other medical conditions like high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease.

Macular degeneration can be divided into two distinct forms, dry and wet. Around 85-90% of cases fall under dry macular degeneration, which involves yellow deposits called drusen under the retina accumulating over time and eventually breaking down (intermediate AMD), leading to central vision loss. Meanwhile, in 10-15% of cases abnormal blood vessels form beneath the retina that leak blood into the macula (wet AMD).

Optic coherence tomography (OCT) is a noninvasive diagnostic technique that uses light waves instead of sound to generate in vivo cross sectional images of structures within the eye with an accuracy of 10-17 microns. Similar to ultrasound but using light instead, OCT allows doctors to visualize retinal layers, measure thickness of retina and macular as well as assess changes caused by treatment on either of them.

An OCT scan involves sending near-infrared light directly into the eye and having it reflect off various structures within it, before measuring any delays in its return signal – this allows quantitative measurements to be made about retinal and macular thicknesses.

Recent research indicated that patients suffering from neovascular AMD could benefit from daily home optical coherence tomography (OCT) scanning and monthly fluorescein angiography, even if their visual acuity falls below 20/20. OCT scanners reveal fluid not detected by traditional visual acuity tests and allow fluid volumes to be tracked over time by this technology.

Injection Therapy

Age-related macular degeneration is a progressive eye condition that gradually destroys sharp central vision. Affecting the macula on the retina – essential for fine details like reading or driving – age-related macular degeneration has been known to lead to blindness without treatment; thankfully there are effective options available that may prevent further sight loss and potentially restore some vision lost over time.

Researchers have discovered that high doses of antioxidant vitamins C, E and Zin may lessen the impact of macular degeneration for some individuals. While taking vitamin supplements alone cannot restore lost vision, regular examinations and tests such as fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography can detect AMD early.

Macular degeneration occurs most commonly as dry macular degeneration, accounting for more than 85% of cases. It is marked by yellow deposits called drusen appearing beneath the retina and progressing more slowly than wet macular degeneration; typically no vision loss results. Wet macular degeneration accounts for only 10% of cases of ARMD; this form is caused by abnormal blood vessel growth that leaks blood and fluid underneath the retina, often resulting in rapid vision loss.

Wet macular degeneration can be treated by injecting an eyedrop containing an anti-VEGF drug that prevents new blood vessel formation while slowing fluid leakage from existing ones. These so-called VEGF blocks work by blocking an enzyme in your body that stimulates their formation, effectively treating wet macular degeneration by halting abnormal vessel growth.

Injection therapy is often employed as an effective solution to treat musculoskeletal pain conditions such as tendonitis, plantar fasciitis and bursitis. Additionally, it has proven particularly successful at relieving red and swollen scars by stimulating scar tissue to mature more gradually reducing its redness and sensitivity. Treatment usually occurs at the site of injury or pain by infiltrating medication directly into scar tissue through injection; dry needling and neural blockade treatments may also be combined for added effectiveness during and post procedure. Although injections generally feel pain-free, some mild discomfort may exist during and post procedure – depending on individual preferences for the duration and after.