Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of blindness among adults over 50 and can be prevented or delayed with vitamin regimens and medications that block abnormal blood vessel growth or leakage.

Lucentis and Avastin, two similar medications that work to stop and reverse vision loss caused by wet AMD, can be injected directly into the eye for maximum effect.

Vitamins and Minerals

The macula, located at the back of your eye, allows you to see straight lines or faces clearly. Composed of light-sensitive cells connected by optic nerve, the macula relays images directly into your brain via visual images transmitted from its own cells. However, as we age our macula can deteriorate and cause blurry or distorted central vision that interferes with daily activities such as driving and reading – macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of blindness among Americans aged 55 or over.

There are two forms of macular degeneration, dry and wet. Dry macular degeneration occurs with age due to yellow protein deposits under the retina called “drusen,” which cause thinned macular layers to lose function and become thinner than expected; unlike its wetter counterpart, dry macular degeneration does not lead to blindness.

Wet macular degeneration occurs when abnormal blood vessels form beneath the retina and begin leaking fluid or blood, damaging macula cells and leading to sudden vision loss. While dry AMD can lead to partial blindness if left untreated, wet AMD could result in complete blindness if left untreated.

Studies have identified various nutritional supplements as being effective at decreasing the risk of advanced macular degeneration in some patients. For instance, the AREDS study demonstrated that high doses of vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, zinc, and copper could significantly lower progression to wet AMD in certain individuals.

These supplements may slow the progression of advanced macular degeneration, but cannot restore vision that has already been lost to this condition. Therefore, people with early macular degeneration should schedule routine dilated eye exams in order to monitor their condition and ensure its progression.

An FDA approval has expanded access to macular degeneration treatment. Faricimab, commonly referred to as Aflibercept, is the first and only bispecific antibody approved to treat wet age-related macular degeneration, geographic atrophy, and neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Administered through injection into the eye, Faricimab works by blocking abnormal blood vessels from growing underneath retina and is one of the first drugs ever proven effective against wet macular degeneration – Pharmacy Times notes this may even lead to its eventual cure!

Injections

Macular degeneration is a leading cause of vision loss among those over 50, reducing your retina’s ability to see fine details and colors, possibly leading to distortion or blurriness of field of vision. There are two types of macular degeneration: dry and wet. Dry macular degeneration accounts for an estimated 85% of cases and occurs when tiny white or yellow deposits known as drusen form on the macula and thin out over time, eventually causing your vision to diminish significantly. It usually does not affect peripheral vision. Wet macular degeneration (WMD) is much less prevalent and occurs when abnormal blood vessels form on the retina’s surface and leak fluid or pigment into your eye, causing vision to become blurry or dim. Left untreated, severe and permanent vision loss could occur.

There are anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents available that can stop the formation and leakage from new blood vessels, called anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF), that are injected directly into the eye to stop their growth and leakage. Numerous clinical trials have demonstrated how using such drugs can stabilize vision in wet AMD patients while at times even improving it; however, their use is complex to administer in clinic settings, often yielding results which differ significantly from their use during clinical studies.

Researchers have also identified a genetic protein that protects against macular degeneration, finding that mice with elevated levels of this protein had significantly less abnormal blood vessel growth in their retinas compared with mice with lower levels of the protein. Together with results of the AREDS clinical trial results, this could provide potential targets for future macular degeneration treatments.

Researchers are studying Avastin and Lucentis, two injectable eye medicines used to treat wet macular degeneration by inhibiting abnormal blood vessel growth. Both have proven their worth by stopping progression of the disease and saving sight in many people who would otherwise have gone blind without these injections. Continued research may allow doctors and researchers to determine when safe stopping may happen without experiencing a substantial decline in vision.

Surgical Implants

Macular degeneration involves damage to the macula at the back of your eye, leading to blurry or hazy vision and difficulty seeing fine details like straight lines clearly. Furthermore, reading, driving or performing other daily activities may become challenging due to this condition; luckily treatment options can slow its progress or help recover lost vision in some instances.

Researchers don’t yet fully understand what causes age-related macular degeneration (AMD), but it occurs when the macula degrades over time and is the leading cause of permanent loss of central vision in people over 60. Dry AMD is the most prevalent form; wet AMD occurs due to new blood vessels forming beneath the retina leaking fluid into it which leads to central vision loss and blind spots forming as a result.

No cure exists for wet AMD; however, you can significantly lower your risk by having regular dilated eye exams in its early stages. Some forms can even be treated using drug injections, photodynamic therapy or laser surgery.

Studies suggest that eating foods high in antioxidants such as lutein and zeaxanthin pigments – found in fruits and vegetables such as kale and spinach – may help halt or delay macular degeneration. You can get these nutrients by eating food sources rich in these pigments such as raw spinach. Alternatively, nutritional supplements also contain these vital ingredients.

An implant that administers medication directly to the eye has been demonstrated to significantly improve vision in patients suffering from wet macular degeneration, developed by scientists at University of California Berkeley. The experimental device currently being studied for clinical trials consists of a flexible plastic frame fitted with tiny implants that hold liquid medications; its name derives from Avastin which was only effective against wet macular degeneration occurring at its center macula.

Other Options

Medication and injections aren’t the only options available to those suffering from macular degeneration; numerous procedures may also help patients experiencing wet macular degeneration (sometimes referred to as Neovascular AMD), which occurs when abnormal blood vessels form under the retina and leak fluid or cause scar tissue formation.

Surgery and laser therapy can also help treat wet ARMD by targeting its blood vessel leaks and macula swellings, though neither are cures but may slow its progress over time.

Your eye doctor can offer guidance regarding which options are the most beneficial. He or she may recommend fluorescein angiography to check for abnormal new blood vessel growth; this procedure involves injecting yellow dye into a vein before taking photos of your retina with a special camera, so your doctor can see the dye traveling through any blood vessels that may be growing beneath the retina and contributing to macular degeneration. Optical coherence tomography provides another means for your doctor to observe changes on macula-level as well as pinpoint new blood vessel growths or see potential future ones that need monitoring closely.

The FDA recently approved Genentech’s refillable implant for treating wet macular degeneration. This tiny device containing anti-VEGF drug ranibizumab can be surgically placed into your eye to provide treatment and can be refilled at your office; providing more prolonged vision improvement.

Your eye doctor may use photodynamic therapy as part of the treatment for macular degeneration and other eye conditions like diabetic macular edema, retinal vein occlusion and central serous retinopathy. This in-office procedure uses light waves to target abnormal blood vessels that contribute to macular degeneration while also treating retinal tears, detachments and diabetic retinopathy. Another laser option available to wet macular degeneration patients is cryoretinopexy which works by freezing retinal tears to stop further bleeding and restore vision improvement.