Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive eye condition which gradually causes central vision to decline, becoming the leading cause of legal blindness among people over 50.

New treatments could stop the progression of AMD and potentially restore some lost vision, including using laser therapy and medication that specifically target abnormal blood vessel growth.

Visudyne

The FDA recently approved Macugen as an effective treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration (WAMD). While dry AMD is more common, wet AMD can lead to rapid vision loss – accounting for 90 percent of blindness related to macular degeneration. While Macugen does not cure or reverse WAMD completely, it helps slow its progress while offering relief.

It works by blocking abnormally-growing and leaking eye blood vessels that contribute to wet macular degeneration – which leads to severe central vision loss and may ultimately require laser treatment – from growing. The drug may also help slow progression of disease for some patients. Furthermore, it was the first FDA-approved treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration.

At each step in Visudyne treatment, an injection is made into the arm, then taken directly to the eye via low-intensity laser beam activation. This laser destroys only blood vessels causing vision impairment – not other healthy tissues – while not harming other healthy structures in the process. Multiple centers across the U.S. currently offer Visudyne including Oregon Health Sciences University Casey Eye Institute and Legacy Health System Devers Eye Institute Devers Eye Institute which were both co-developed by Novartis’ CIBA Vision division along with QLT Phototherapeutics CIBA Vision and QLT Phototherapeutics respectively.

Before the procedure begins, doctors ask their patient to lie down and close their eyes. They then inject a drug into an arm vein and send it directly to the retina where it will be activated by short pulses from a low-intensity laser light; targeting retinal vascular cells sensitive to its chemical properties which causes them to disassemble reducing abnormal blood vessels that leak fluid and damage macula.

This procedure can be completed quickly in an eye care provider’s office and takes only minutes. At present, it is being offered in limited locations within the US by eye care providers who have participated in clinical trials.

Notably, any central vision lost due to macular degeneration will never be restored; however, there may be ways of managing the condition, including using low-vision devices or monitoring Amsler grid distortions regularly. Furthermore, ongoing research into artificial retinas or stimulating methods could potentially reduce central macular degeneration’s impact.

Macugen

Macugen is an anti-angiogenic drug designed to inhibit the formation of new blood vessels in the eye by blocking vascular endothelial growth factor, or VEGF, protein. As the first treatment for macular degeneration to target this specific source of new vessel growth in the eye, Macugen can be administered six-weekly injections over up to two years and has shown promise in slowing wet macular degeneration progression.

Wet age-related macular degeneration occurs when leaky blood vessels in the retina rupture and cause damage to central vision used for reading, driving and recognising faces – damaging central vision essential for reading, driving and face recognition. This form of macular degeneration accounts for 90% of blindness due to this disease; Macugen is not intended as a cure, but may slow vision loss and possibly improve central vision in some patients.

Injection of this medication into the eye at a medical office or other setting should not pose any dangers to an unborn baby, though women planning or pregnant are encouraged to inform their physician prior to using this medication. The FDA categorizes medications into five groups according to potential risks to unborn babies when taken by pregnant women; this medication belongs to category B due to no well-done studies of its effects on unborn fetuses; animal studies did not demonstrate any detrimental results for pregnancy outcomes.

Some common side effects of medication can include blurry or dimmed vision, headaches and eye redness. It is important to notify your physician right away if any adverse reactions appear so they can be monitored or managed appropriately.

Notify your doctor of any additional medications you are taking, as many can interact with Macugen and cause potentially dangerous side effects if combined. The FDA maintains a list of possible interactions on its website – however this list may change over time as new ones emerge.

Anti-angiogenic drugs

Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), one of the many eye problems caused by the aging process, affects the macula (central vision). It can lead to severe vision loss and blindness among those over 60; treatments include slowing its progression while offering some quality of life improvements and even prevention such as using anti-angiogenic drugs or combination treatments that include them – these medicines may be taken alone or alongside others for maximum effect.

These drugs prevent the formation of new blood vessels that form, which are the key driving factor behind neovascular AMD. This advanced form causes abnormal vessels to leak blood and fluid under the retina, damaging cells in its path and creating blind spots in central vision. They also inhibit any associated inflammation; FDA has approved several such anti-angiogenic medicines such as Bevacizumab (Avastin). Please speak with your eye care provider to obtain this treatment option.

Brolucizumab (beOVU), an injectable medication targeting VEGF protein that stimulates new blood vessel formation, has shown promising results in treating wet AMD in clinical trials. Furthermore, its low incidence of adverse side effects makes it appealing as an option for older patients.

Research is ongoing into new medications that target VEGF to reduce the risk of neovascular AMD, such as tirapazamine developed by Tyrogenex Inc. This oral medication works to block VEGF from entering cells and is being tested alongside anti-angiogenic agents to treat neovascular macular degeneration and other eye diseases.

A CIRM grant will quickly move this treatment towards clinical trial phase. The team has already demonstrated how implanted cells produce chemical messages which stimulate healing and prevent blindness in animals that would otherwise become blind due to paracrine signaling, one key reason why implants appear to work so effectively.

Vitamins and minerals

Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients that your body requires in order to function optimally. Your diet should provide most of these essential vitamins and minerals; however, supplementation options are also available if your diet doesn’t fulfill this need.

Some vitamins, such as Vitamins C and E, help protect the eyes. Other nutrients like Beta-Carotene and Zinc may slow macular degeneration progression; in fact, one study conducted by Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) discovered that supplementation of high doses with these nutrients reduced an individual’s risk of progressing to advanced AMD by 28%!

Minerals play an essential role in body functions without providing energy, making up 4 % of total body weight. Minerals include water-soluble vitamins such as Vitamin C and eight B Complex vitamins; fat-soluble vitamins A & D; electrolytes like sodium chloride & potassium; their best sources being meat dairy fruits vegetables grains etc. Our Special Health Report makes it simple to identify which food contain high quantities and when supplements could be useful.