Age-related macular degeneration can result in central vision loss. There are two forms: dry and wet; with wet macular degeneration occurring when abnormal blood vessels grow into and leak fluid into the eye.

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is an emerging approach used by doctors to safely destroy these blood vessels and slow further vision loss from wet macular degeneration. It uses special lights that emit high energy photons to destroy these blood vessels and prevent further vision loss from wet macular degeneration.

Visudyne

Visudyne is the first light-activated drug therapy approved for wet macular degeneration and may help restore some central vision lost due to this condition. After administering Visudyne injections in your arm, doctors use non-thermal laser lights directly on retinal blood vessels in your eye to activate it and trigger chemical reactions that destroy leaky or abnormal vessels; approximately 15% of patients treated with Visudyne report improved vision as it slows progression of their wet AMD.

Visudyne (verteporfin for injection) has recently been shown in studies to significantly enhance reading and driving ability in early stages of wet macular degeneration, while simultaneously decreasing blind spot size in central vision.

Visudyne is a light-activated drug that enters your bloodstream and travels directly to the retina of both eyes, where it binds and inactivates abnormal blood vessels associated with wet AMD. Researchers used special techniques to visualize macular degeneration blood vessels using high-powered microscopes before shining a low-powered laser light into patient’s eyes to convert Visudyne so it only affects abnormal leaky vessels while leaving healthy tissues unaffected.

Once the drug has been modified to specifically target diseased blood vessels, it is activated by laser light to cause them to break apart and destroy abnormal leaky vessels that cause wet AMD. Damaged cells then die off naturally before being absorbed back by the body – this process is known as photocoagulation and it has been shown safe and effective as a treatment option for wet macular degeneration in its early stage.

After receiving an injection, patients must refrain from exposure to direct sunlight or bright indoor light for five days post-injection, wear dark sunglasses and keep a band on their wrist as a reminder of this essential measure. Side effects of treatment can include pain, itching and swelling around the injection site while serious heart symptoms such as rapid or irregular heartbeat and chest fluttering may appear during or shortly after treatment.

Anti-VEGF Drugs

Some individuals suffering from advanced macular degeneration have wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD). In this form of the condition, abnormal blood vessels grow underneath the retina and leak fluid into it, eventually leading to vision loss and vision impairment. Anti-VEGF drugs have been developed to block new blood vessels from growing under the retina, slow their leakage and decrease swelling underneath it. These injections into the eye (intravitreal injections) include Avastin, Eylea and Lucentis for example. Nocib has been approved to treat leakage of blood and fluid from AMD (neovascular), retinal vein occlusions, choroidal neovascularization caused by other causes (steroid treatment or high myopia), choroiditis, vitreous hemorrhage or prematurity retinaopathy or by various eye surgeries such as vitrectomy and macular hole repair.

Researchers have recently discovered that vascular endothelial growth factor, commonly known as VEGF, plays an integral part in creating abnormal blood vessels under the retina in wet macular degeneration and other retinal disorders. VEGF is released naturally by cells of the eye to promote growth of normal blood vessels and aid in wound healing; however, in retinal diseases like wet AMD, diabetic retinopathy, and prematurity retinal disorders the liberation of VEGF leads to abnormal new blood vessel formation which leak fluid into macular edema and vision loss.

At present, the most commonly prescribed anti-VEGF drugs to treat wet macular degeneration are Aflibercept and Ranibizumab; however, these expensive treatments often come with monthly injections that can cause significant pain and inflammation.

Researchers from Johns Hopkins Medicine recently conducted a groundbreaking study that suggests they may soon be able to accurately predict which patients can safely stop anti-VEGF drug injection therapy without experiencing significant vision loss. Their results, published in March’s issue of JAMA Ophthalmology, show that up to one-third of wet macular degeneration sufferers may benefit from pausing treatment altogether.

The team analyzed blood samples of 106 people with wet AMD who had been prescribed anti-VEGF drugs, and discovered those able to discontinue treatment had better vision gains and less fluid in their eyes, though more randomized clinical trials on larger groups must take place before knowing exactly how long a treatment break should last. Sodhi recommends conducting more trials as soon as possible in order to establish safety and efficacy criteria.

Vitamins and Minerals

Studies indicate that certain vitamins and minerals may lower the risk of macular degeneration. These nutrients are abundantly found in healthful food sources and play important roles in healing wounds, building strong bones, moving muscles, fighting germs that make us sick, as well as healing wounds themselves. Some such vitamins include Thiamin, Riboflavin Folate Vitamin A C E K while mineral sources include potassium Calcium Magnesium Zinc

Researchers have linked diets low in specific nutrients with AMD and other eye problems, including macular degeneration (AMD) and retinal damage from sunlight. These nutrients include lutein and zeaxanthin from carotenoid family antioxidant pigments lutein and zeaxanthin. People who increase consumption or take supplements of these antioxidant pigments experience higher macular pigment levels which protects retina from damage from sunlight while improving vision function.

The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) revealed that supplementing with vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, and zinc could slow wet macular degeneration progression for some individuals. Over 3,600 participants of AREDS who already had at least moderately advanced AMD participated, and taking supplements reduced risk by 28% – this indicates promising evidence against further AMD development.

There is no cure for dry macular degeneration; however, research indicates it may be prevented through eating a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables as well as other healthful foods. Furthermore, it would be wise to quit smoking, limit sun exposure as much as possible, maintain a healthy weight, and regularly exercise.

New treatments are being created that may slow the progression of macular degeneration and prevent future vision loss. One such approach involves implanting an artificial mini-telescope into one’s eye to magnify images on retina, helping overcome distortion or blurriness caused by macular degeneration.

An abundance of supplements are readily available, yet it can be challenging to know which are beneficial and which could potentially harm you. This Special Health Report helps clear away confusion by outlining which nutrients are essential and why, how to incorporate them into your diet, and when it is permissible (and when not) to exceed recommended dietary allowances.

One-Time Gene Therapy

Gene therapy has the ability to correct the source of disease in certain instances. This distinguishes it from traditional pharmaceutical remedies, which only treat symptoms and some of their root causes. For example, someone living with hemophilia could receive one-time treatments designed to override an inherited genetic mutation causing spontaneous and potentially life-threatening bleeding episodes; years later they will no longer need to worry about this issue.

An alternative approach may provide relief to people suffering from macular degeneration. Gene therapy could potentially restore function to photoreceptors that no longer convert light to nerve signals – scientists are working hard on developing ways of doing this, yet progress has been slow.

Recent experiments have produced promising results. Researchers from Nanoscope Technologies reported in Gene Therapy on October 22, 2020, that they improved vision in blind mice using an engineered version of opsin protein which implements visual signal transduction and helps the brain recognize light. Bipolar cells express this form of opsin protein which connects rod and cone photoreceptors with retinal ganglion cells that make up optic nerve. Their team discovered that using an AAV vector, delivered with this engineered version prevented oxidative stress that destroys neurons while strengthening remaining ones.

Researchers conducted a non-human primate trial to confirm that viral vector from one eye spread to the uninjected one and resulted in improvements for both eyes. Their findings show that one-injection intravitreal gene therapy could offer an attractive alternative to traditional therapies requiring repeated injections of anti-VEGF agents.

An alternative approach involves using a viral vector containing an antibody fragment designed to block vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the protein responsible for stimulating abnormally formed new blood vessels in wet age-related macular degeneration. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals’s RGX-314 treatment may offer hope as one potential injection option for wet AMD and diabetic retinopathy; its efficacy will be tested during the AREDS Phase 3 trial.

Numerous other companies are taking genetic approaches to treat vision-loss conditions, including atrophic “dry” AMD with complement factor B inhibition and N-acetylcysteine as an antioxidant; Usher syndrome in children using N-acetylcysteine for blindness and deafness treatment; Stargardt macular dystrophy using agents that prevent vitamin A recycling; stem cell therapy has shown early promise as an ocular disease treatment, but safety concerns still need to be considered.