Though macular degeneration cannot be treated directly, a small percentage of cases progress to wet AMD (neovascular AMD). If this has happened to you, straight lines may appear wavy or are otherwise altered; such symptoms could indicate wet AMD as the source.

Treatment for wet AMD typically entails injecting eyedrops directly into the eyeball. While injections may improve vision, there may be short periods of discomfort at or irritation around the injection site and potential geographic atrophy occurrence.

Symptoms

Dry macular degeneration occurs when cells in the macula thin out over time and begin to break down, eventually leading to central vision becoming blurry or hazy but peripheral vision still working normally – usually people can still drive, read, recognize faces, recognize faces etc. which requires precise eyesight. A common indicator of dry macular degeneration is the formation of yellow deposits known as drusen which are accumulations of waste materials such as proteins, lipids, and cholesterol which do not harm vision but instead signal that the retina has started breaking down. Drusen do not harm but indicate that retina is starting to disintegrate indicating retina is starting its disintegration process and start dissolving over time resulting in vision becoming impaired but this does not indicate damage but rather suggests retina is starting its disintegration process.

Wet or Neovascular Macular Degeneration occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow underneath the retina in its choroid layer. When ruptured, these blood vessels may bleed or leak fluid into the retina causing severe central vision loss. 10-15% of dry AMD cases transition to wet AMD over time; those affected usually experience rapid vision decline with symptoms more severe than dry AMD.

Wet macular degeneration’s symptoms include wavy or blurry vision caused by fluid that leaks under the retina, distorting light reflecting off it and making straight lines appear wavy or crooked. People affected by wet macular degeneration also find it challenging to read, drive or perform other activities which rely on central vision such as reading books.

There are various tests that can detect macular degeneration. One such is an Amsler grid test, in which participants view a grid of straight lines; any deviations could indicate macular degeneration, as could distorting central vision and seeing gray or green spots within your field of vision.

Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) medication is administered directly into the eye in order to stop bleeding and leakage of fluid from dysfunctional blood vessels, improving quality of life while slowing progression of wet AMD by significantly improving central vision. Anti-VEGF medications available include Lucentis, Avastin, and Eylea; more advanced anti-VEGF medicines are currently under research to increase their beneficial results even further.

Diagnosis

Dry macular degeneration causes light-sensitive cells in the center of retina called maculara to gradually break down, leading to central vision loss and supporting tissue degradation known as geographic atrophy. Over time, dry AMD may progress into its wet form which is marked by abnormal blood vessel growth that leak fluid and cause retinal tissue bleed.

About 10% of those with dry age-related macular degeneration progress quickly to develop the wet form, leading to severe central vision loss. Typically, one eye has the dry form while the other develops wet AMD; however, both can occur simultaneously in one eye.

An important step in diagnosing wet macular degeneration is scheduling a comprehensive eye exam with an ophthalmologist or optometrist. Diagnostic techniques like optical coherence tomography and fundus fluorescein angiography provide doctors with a better view of retina by using special dye to detect any unusual blood vessel formation or leakage.

If your doctor recommends injecting anti-VEGF medication, it’s essential that you understand its potential long-term risks. These may include retinal tears and detached retinas (which could result in permanent blindness). You could also experience temporary discomfort at the injection site; these usually subside within 24-48 hours. Lastly, as with any invasive procedure there’s always the potential risk of an infection developing at its injection site.

Treatments

Dry macular degeneration occurs when retinal cells in the macula cease functioning properly and stop producing retinal pigment, leading to the accumulation of drusen deposits below the retina and, eventually, wet AMD in 10-20% of people. With wet AMD, abnormal blood vessels grow beneath the retina and leak fluid into its environment causing central vision loss and eventually leading to blindness.

Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections are administered directly into the eye to block abnormal blood vessels responsible for wet AMD from leaking and prevent leaking. Examples of such anti-VEGF treatments are Lucentis, Avastin and Eylea; ongoing research seeks to find better medications.

Procedure for these injections is quick and pain-free; any discomfort experienced afterward typically subsides within minutes or hours. Furthermore, injections may produce visual changes like floaters or changes to vision but these side effects usually dissipate over time.

Since injections are widely recognized and effective treatments, most health insurance plans cover them to some degree. Check with your provider to understand specifics. Additionally, patient assistance programs offer assistance with monthly payments for anti-VEGF medications.

Side Effects

Eye injections have proven successful even in advanced cases of AMD to stabilize or improve vision, so early intervention and regular follow-up with your physician are key. Although injection costs can be costly, many health insurance plans cover at least some or all of it – to find out more, speak to your insurance provider. There may also be patient assistance programs available which may assist if affordability becomes an issue.

Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections are often prescribed as treatment for wet macular degeneration. This medication limits abnormal blood vessel development while stopping leakage from existing ones that cause vision loss, making an outpatient procedure relatively quick with only mild discomfort at injection sites usually resolved shortly thereafter; some patients may also experience temporary vision changes with floating spots appearing briefly after initial administration; this condition usually disappears quickly thereafter.

Leakage from blood vessels may lead to geographic atrophy – an uneven surface on the retina that results in missing central vision, which may hinder driving, reading and recognising faces. The symptoms include blind spots affecting driving ability or central vision that make driving and reading impossible or recognition of faces impossible.

Prevent wet macular degeneration from progressing to dry macular degeneration by taking an AREDS vitamin supplement and eating a diet low in cholesterol and abundant in green leafy vegetables. You should also quit smoking and visit an ophthalmologist regularly, while gene therapy research offers hope for treating macular degeneration in the future.