Age related macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of severe vision loss among adults over sixty. Unfortunately, unlike joints, our eyes don’t give any visual cues that tell us something is amiss, meaning deterioration often goes undetected.

Symptoms of macular degeneration include gradual loss of central vision, distortion in straight lines and missing pieces of vision. An eye exam with dilation can identify early stage disease.

Vitamins

Vitamin supplements could potentially aid in preventing or delaying age related macular degeneration, according to a new study. This marks a small win for vitamins after studies which suggested their ineffectiveness at combatting disease. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a serious eye disease that often results in blindness among elderly individuals. AMD develops when cells in the retina (the back layer of your eye that sends light signals to your brain) break down, creating an opaque spot at the center of your vision that’s hard to see clearly. This can result in a loss of central vision, making it more difficult to see faces or read. Furthermore, the condition can lead to the formation of tiny deposits under the retina called drusen that do not usually lead to vision loss but can become large enough to interfere with regular activities.

Recent research conducted with people suffering early-stage AMD found that supplementing them with antioxidant vitamins and minerals was effective at slowing disease progression among those at greater risk for advanced macular degeneration. The Age-Related Eye Disease Study, or AREDS, demonstrated this benefit using dietary supplement formula containing 500mg vitamin C, 400 international units vitamin E, 15mg beta carotene 15 mg beta carotene 15mg, zinc oxide 80mg and copper 2mg. In its original findings it demonstrated this result but this follow-up research sought to see whether adding lutein/zeaxanthin or replacing beta carotene with omega-3 fatty acids would further decrease progression to advanced macular degeneration.

In the double-blind trial, people with early stage macular degeneration received either a multivitamin pill or placebo pill for 11.2 years. Participants self-reported cataracts and visually significant macular degeneration; results were verified through medical records. Results demonstrated that those taking multivitamins experienced 25% fewer advanced cases than their placebo counterparts.

Supplemental vitamins can aid in keeping eyes healthy. Vitamin C is an antioxidant known to reduce dry eye syndrome and cataract risk; it is found in citrus fruits, peppers, broccoli, kale, strawberries, tomatoes and potatoes; as well as in various dietary supplements. Furthermore, Vitamin E has also been found to decrease macular degeneration risk; this powerful anti-oxidant can be found in almonds, sunflower seeds and vegetable oils as well as several dietary supplements.

Anti-angiogenesis drugs

Angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels) plays an essential role in many biological processes, including organ growth and healing as well as cancer metastasis. Excessive angiogenesis may lead to pathological conditions like ocular neovascularization and glaucoma; to combat this issue several medical treatments known as antiangiogenesis drugs or anti-VEGF therapies have been developed that specifically target these pathways and treat related pathologies such as these diseases.

VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) is a protein that stimulates the formation of blood vessels in the eye. Excess VEGF causes abnormal new vessels to appear beneath the retina and leak fluid and blood into delicate macula tissues causing blurry vision. Anti-VEGF therapy works by decreasing levels of VEGF; anti-angiogenesis drugs work by blocking it to stop new blood vessel growth while simultaneously decreasing leakage fluid loss and stopping bleeding thus conserving central vision and saving central vision.

Current anti-VEGF treatments consist of intravitreal injection of either bevacizumab or ranibizumab. Bevacizumab binds directly to VEGF-A and inhibits its action, acting like a humanized antibody fragment without an Fc region that has been affinity matured to more closely bind VEGF-A; its efficacy was demonstrated in FDA trials of wet AMD known as RIDE and RISE trials where bevacizumab produced dramatic visual benefits among those suffering neovascularization.

Ranibizumab works differently. It binds to two growth factor proteins known as VEGF-A and VEGF-C that stimulate new blood vessel formation. Ranibizumab was FDA-approved in 2014 based on results of Regeneron’s VISTA and VIVID-DME clinical trials with 862 participants; those receiving monthly doses of ranibizumab showed greater improvement in visual acuity than those who only underwent macular laser photocoagulation alone.

Other medications have also been discovered to possess anti-angiogenic properties, including ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), and tretinoin (Renova, Tretinoin). Studies are ongoing in diabetic retinopathy and DME to evaluate these therapies’ benefits; specifically RIBOMIC’s Aflibercept treatment has proven superior to laser photocoagulation for DME while their RBM-007 compound for treating exudative age-related macular degeneration.

Laser therapy

Laser therapy is a quick, noninvasive therapy that works at a cellular level to alleviate pain and accelerate healing. It can be used alone or in combination with other therapies like anti-angiogenesis drugs or surgery and has been found to decrease progression of eye diseases such as glaucoma, macular degeneration and retinal tears by targeting diseased vessels and retinal tissues with laser energy; water molecules absorb this laser energy before being photo-stimulated photo-chemically to stimulate cell repair processes for faster tissue recovery, leading to decreased inflammation, decreased edema/analgesia/accelerated healing processes resulting in reduced inflammation/edema/analgesia/analgesia/accelerated tissue repair processes and overall quicker healing processes for improved results in less pain relief/analgesia/accelerated tissue repair processes/speed up repairs overall.

This procedure typically takes only minutes in your doctor’s office and is both safe and effective for most patients. A contact lens is placed over the eye, with low-power laser beam shining onto retina. When exposed to pigmented macula areas of retina, laser light absorbs through pigment and reacts by sealing leaky blood vessels in response.

Age related macular degeneration, also known as wet AMD, occurs when abnormal blood vessels leak fluid under the retina and lead to vision loss. Treatment options for wet AMD include using drugs that inhibit new blood vessel formation and reduce their leakage; or having surgery done to destroy abnormal vessels with laser lights so they won’t grow back; either one may help keep vision loss at bay.

An initial pilot study has discovered that infrared (810-nm) diode laser macular grid photocoagulation significantly reduces drusen and improves visual acuity in eyes with nonexudative AMD. Furthermore, this procedure decreased CNV membrane formation rate; an important finding considering CNV may cause serious vision problems.

Another potential treatment for wet AMD may involve injecting medication directly into your arm. Once in your system, this medicine travels through your bloodstream to your retina and pools in damaged blood vessels there. A low-power laser then shines into your eye to react with retinal cells; sealing leaky blood vessels while helping prevent further vision loss.

Surgery

Macular degeneration is a condition affecting the macula at the back of each eye, composed of millions of light-sensing cells. It is the leading cause of central vision loss among older people and can lead to blurred or distorted central vision that prevents people from driving, reading or sewing clearly.

AMD is usually progressive and left untreated can lead to blindness; however there are treatments which may reduce its progression such as injection of medication into the eye and laser therapy that may slow its progress. Such approaches aim at increasing fine detail perception to help those living with AMD remain independent in their homes and communities.

Macular degeneration currently does not have a cure; therefore, its best approach is prevention through regular visits to an ophthalmologist and following their guidelines regarding diet, exercise and vitamin supplements. Furthermore, it’s essential to protect your eyes from UV radiation by not smoking.

There are two forms of macular degeneration, dry age related macular degeneration (DAMD) and wet age related macular degeneration (WAMD). DAMD occurs when deposits known as drusen form beneath the retina and break down light-sensitive cells within the macula, leading to blurred or distorted central vision and eventually blindness or vision loss. It is the most prevalent form of macular degeneration.

Wet macular degeneration (WMD) may occur when abnormal blood vessels form beneath or nearby the retina and leak blood and fluid, damaging maculae rapidly and severely, leading to rapid loss of central vision and ultimately permanent blindness if left untreated. WMD can lead to permanent blindness if untreated properly, thus making treatment of both diseases imperative.

Recent research found that some individuals suffering from wet macular degeneration improved their vision after having laser surgery to destroy unhealthy new blood vessels beneath their retinas. This procedure, known as photodynamic therapy, uses a laser beam coupled with special dye that detects these blood vessels before using laser therapy to damage or destroy them.