Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME) are leading causes of visual loss among adults.1,2 Anti-angiogenic drugs that restrict immature blood vessel growth have shown marked improvement in patients’ visual acuity.

Proper diagnosis, monitoring and treatment are vital in order to preserve vision. In this article we’ll take a look at some of the latest innovations in these treatments.

Early Diagnosis

The macula is an area at the centre of your retina – the light-sensitive tissue lining the back of the eye that allows you to clearly perceive details when reading, driving or working. As we age, however, this region may develop degenerative changes which lead to macular degeneration – this condition causes central vision loss while still leaving enough peripheral vision available for daily life activities such as reading or recognising faces; macular degeneration affects approximately 10% of those over 60. While macular degeneration is progressive disease; early detection can help limit further vision loss over time.

Dry macular degeneration cannot be treated completely, but treatment may help slow its progression. When conducting an eye exam, doctors look for signs of early AMD such as yellow deposits of fatty material called drusen that form early in life; breaks in the macula; leaky blood vessels that form beneath the retina; an Amsler grid can be used to test vision for any distortion, blurry or wavy lines while optical coherence tomography (OCT) captures cross-sectional retinal images with light waves which allows them to identify drusen as well as abnormal blood vessels as areas choroidal neovascularization.

Wet macular degeneration occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow underneath the retina and leak fluid and blood into macular edema, leading to rapid vision loss and can even be quite serious. Because early detection is key for successful outcomes of wet macular degeneration.

Smokers, those with a family history of macular degeneration and those living with high blood pressure or diabetes are at an increased risk for this condition, while it’s even more prevalent among people who carry genetic predisposition for macular degeneration or who have experienced retinal vein occlusions.

Though there is no proven treatment to combat wet macular degeneration, diet, weight control, quitting smoking and regular exercise may help to decrease its risk. Supplements containing vitamins C, E beta-carotene and zinc oxide may be helpful; talk to your physician for recommendations of suitable supplements for you.

Preventive Measures

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can increase with environmental, genetic and lifestyle factors combining to increase your risk. This condition manifests itself with gradual loss of central vision while your peripheral vision remains unchanged. There are two forms: dry macular degeneration which causes light-sensing cells in the macula to break down over time, and wet macular degeneration where abnormal blood vessels grow beneath your retina – though its wet form often progresses more rapidly without likely being reversible.

Macular degeneration symptoms include difficulty seeing fine details or straight lines, distortion in your vision (where straight lines become bent or crooked), dark spots or empty spaces in central vision and dark spots in peripheral vision. Regular eye exams from a qualified eye care provider are important; your physician will conduct a comprehensive eye exam that includes visual acuity testing as well as dilations so he or she can examine inside of your eye with special cameras that produce cross-sectional images of your retinas.

As early stages of AMD arise, an eye doctor will monitor your vision with both a grid and optical coherence tomography (OCT). OCT allows your doctor to visualize retinal blood vessels and detect any irregularities which could lead to wet macular degeneration.

If you suffer from wet macular degeneration, medications may help restrict the growth of abnormal blood vessels that leak and damage your vision. When administered directly into the eye, these injections block vascular endothelial growth factor’s action – which stimulates their formation – thus slowing their progress and improving vision but they cannot serve as a cure; ongoing treatment must still be administered for effective results.

Reduce your risk of wet macular degeneration by eating healthy food, quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy weight and wearing sunglasses equipped with UV filters. If you already have wet macular degeneration, however, consulting with a physician about nutritional supplements that might help manage symptoms and protect vision such as Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) formula supplements such as lutein/zeaxanthin/zinc/copper.

Treatment Options

Age related macular degeneration (ARMD) does not have a cure, but treatment can help stop its progress from worsening. Common approaches include injectable medications and laser treatments. Both these approaches may slow the disease’s progress while improving vision in some patients. Your physician will create an individual care plan tailored specifically to you and your specific needs.

ARMD is one of the primary causes of severe vision loss among people over 55, affecting the central portion of retina called macula and disrupting its normal functions such as seeing fine details clearly such as faces or straight lines. As soon as our macula deteriorates, daily tasks like reading and driving become impossible – symptoms include blurry or dim central vision, dark spots in central visual field and distortion of straight lines.

Dry ARMD is the most prevalent form of macular degeneration. This condition occurs when macular tissues deteriorate over time, but doesn’t lead to severe vision loss until wet ARMD sets in. With wet ARMD, blood vessels begin growing abnormally underneath the macula and leak fluid under the retina causing severe vision loss in months.

Wet ARMD can be effectively treated by injecting anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) drugs such as ranibizumab, aflibercept and brolucizumab into patients to decrease vision loss rates compared to sham therapy or photodynamic therapy; however, indefinite injections place a significant burden on both patients and healthcare providers alike; additionally, current treatments options do not work effectively for all those diagnosed with neovascular AMD.

Surgery may also be available as an effective solution for managing complications associated with wet AMD, such as choroidal neovascularization and geographic atrophy. Sometimes surgical removal or placement of artificial implants can produce better results than anti-VEGF agents alone; additionally, significant research efforts are ongoing in developing alternative strategies for treating patients that are resistant to anti-VEGF therapies.

Monitoring

Monitoring macular degeneration requires closely tracking its progression, which can be challenging. But thanks to technology, monitoring tools and smartphone apps are helping make this task simpler – remote monitoring tools and smartphone apps are helping optometrists detect abnormal vision changes earlier than ever before, sending alerts directly to clinics so treatment can begin almost instantly – potentially saving vision or sight altogether.

Dry macular degeneration patients may use the development of drusen as a key indicator of future vision loss. Drusen are yellow deposits under the retina visible during an eye exam; but their rate of development and contribution to vision loss remain unknown. Recent research indicates that one image using spectral domain optical coherence tomography can be used to quantify progression rates; this allows doctors to monitor nonexudative AMD progress from drusen through geographic atrophy and choroidal neovascularization with ease.

This new approach is significantly more accurate than previous methods, helping doctors quickly diagnose wet macular degeneration – when new blood vessels grow at the back of the eye to supply damaged macula with blood and nutrients – which is a potentially serious condition that must be monitored closely and treated quickly. At present, wet macular degeneration treatment consists of injecting an eye drop called VEGF that blocks it from creating new vessels; this may slow or stop further damage as well as restore some central vision lost but does not restore peripheral (side vision).

Current best practice to avoid wet macular degeneration includes eating well, exercising regularly and not smoking – this will significantly lower your risks of the condition if there’s a family history of it. Should it still develop, Legacy Eye Care’s team at South Hill office provides early detection and monitoring as well as referral to local ophthalmologists if necessary – call now or book online!