Macular degeneration is an eye condition characterized by gradual central vision loss and is classified into two forms: dry AMD and wet macular degeneration.

Under dry forms of AMD, small deposits called drusen may form, leading to the macula becoming thinner. Patients may experience vision loss in central vision areas or distortion of straight lines.

Injection Therapy

Age related macular degeneration, or ARMD, deteriorates the central portion of your retina — the area which sends visual signals directly to your brain — over time, leading to blurriness, dark areas or distortion of straight lines and making reading, driving and performing other tasks which require sharp central vision more challenging. Unfortunately there is no known cure; however treatment options can slow its progress or even improve it in certain instances.

Ninety percent of people diagnosed with macular degeneration suffer from its “dry” form, caused by thinning of the macula due to oxidative stress. Over time, small protein deposits known as drusen begin accumulating under the retina, eventually becoming larger and eventually leading to loss of central vision. For some patients however, these clumps can become replaced by new blood vessels which leak fluid beneath their retina – wet macular degeneration has also been observed and this form can rapidly reduce vision loss.

Wet macular degeneration (WMD) is an especially serious form of AMD. Up to 10 percent of people suffering from the condition experience this form, caused by abnormal blood vessels that grow beneath the retina and leak fluid or blood. This condition can result in significant and rapid loss of central vision and should be taken more seriously than dry macular degeneration.

Some patients can effectively destroy new blood vessels with injections of medication, such as Eylea (aflibercept), Lucentis (ranibizumab) or Avastin (bevacizumab). These medicines work by blocking an eye protein known as vascular endothelial growth factor which triggers new vessel formation; these injections of medication into intravitreal administration are then performed.

As part of your health regimen, living an active and healthy lifestyle, regularly exercising, not smoking and eating a nutritious diet with vitamin supplements are the keys to delaying macular degeneration. Also important are having routine checkups with a physician as well as wearing sunglasses while staying out of direct sunlight, using glasses with ultraviolet filters, wearing sunglasses when going outside, using UV filter glasses when necessary and seeing an ophthalmologist regularly for regular eye exams.

Fluorescein Angiography

Fluorescein angiography, a specialized technique employing dye to take pictures of blood vessels in your retina and choroid (the layer beneath), requires your healthcare provider to inject special dye into one or more veins in your arm; then this dye travels through its route before being detected by a camera-like device that takes pictures as the dye passes by your retina and choroid – such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein/artery occlusions/cystoroids macular edema/ other eye health conditions or any vascular conditions that affect your eye vascular conditions that could indicate serious disease conditions that require treatment from healthcare providers.

Our doctors use dye injection to accurately diagnose wet macular degeneration, which affects approximately 20% of people with dry macular degeneration. Its cause lies within abnormal blood vessel growth that allows fluid leakage through to cause vision loss; laser surgery offers hope as this form can be targeted directly against new blood vessel growth to destroy them and restore sight loss.

Wet macular degeneration is more serious, often leading to sudden vision loss. Its cause lies within tiny blood vessels under the retina which bleed and leak fluid, blurring or completely eliminating central vision. Treatment options for wet macular degeneration include laser surgery or using anti-VEGF agents to limit abnormal blood vessel growth – these drugs may be taken orally or injected directly into the eye.

Up until recently, laser photocoagulation was the only effective treatment option available to treat wet macular degeneration. Unfortunately, it can be expensive and time consuming with results seen only by 15% of patients; however, North Florida Eye Center eye care professionals now provide more effective and non-damaging photodynamic therapy treatment as an option.

North Florida Eye Center in Chiefland and Gainesville offers macular degeneration screening exams to detect early. Contact us now to arrange for one!

Optical Coherence Tomography

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a safe, non-invasive medical imaging technique used to observe structures within the eye at a micrometer scale. First developed for use in ophthalmology, OCT now makes layers of tissue previously invisible using other means visible – providing high definition real time scans of retina and blood vessel scans which allow OCT to identify abnormalities otherwise difficult to spot.

Macular degeneration is a progressive condition that reduces our central vision – used for reading, driving and recognising faces – over time. It occurs when light-sensitive cells in the macula stop working properly and cause blurriness or obstruction to our central vision; while other parts of your eyes continue to function normally.

Macular degeneration can be divided into two distinct forms, dry and wet. Wet macular degeneration arises when abnormal blood vessels grow beneath the retina and leak fluid into it, leading to rapid and severe vision loss – it is the leading cause of blindness in people aged 50 years or over.

Dry macular degeneration, the early form of macular degeneration, does not lead to bleeding or sudden vision loss. Instead, those affected typically form small deposits called drusen under their retina which eventually break down and cease functioning (advancing dry macular degeneration). They may also experience faded colors or see straight lines appear wavy.

Vitamin supplements may help with dry macular degeneration; on the other hand, wet macular degeneration may require laser surgery or medication such as Avastin (bevacizumab), Lucentis (ranibizumab) and Eylea (aflibercept) which act as anti-vascular endothelial growth factor or VEGF inhibitors and have shown promise in slowing its progression.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an advanced imaging technology that utilizes an infrared light beam to scan the retina and its blood vessels, including macular degeneration and glaucoma. At OHSU Casey Eye Institute physician-scientists have pioneered its use as an easy, noninvasive test that can diagnose or monitor many eye diseases including macular degeneration and glaucoma.

Vitamins and Minerals

Macular degeneration patients may benefit from taking nutritional supplements to slow the progression of the disease, such as vitamin C, E, beta carotene and zinc. A diet rich in eye-healthy foods and avoiding smoking are also key. For optimal outcomes it’s also important to visit their ophthalmologist regularly in order to monitor vision changes or discuss any vision changes with them. Managing any underlying medical conditions like heart disease or high blood pressure as soon as possible to protect vision loss from further progression.

For wet macular degeneration, one of the most effective treatments is injecting medication directly into one’s eye. This medication blocks new abnormal blood vessels from sprouting under the retina, helping restore central and reading vision in some patients while at the same time protecting against further loss. While this does not cure or reverse any vision lost as a result of macular degeneration, it does provide vital protection from further loss.

Your ophthalmologist can advise on the type and dosage of medications. Fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography (OCT) tests can help your physician monitor whether the treatments are working. Your doctor can inject yellow fluorescein dye into a vein in your arm; it travels directly to the retina where a special camera takes pictures of its blood vessels – this allows the doctor to detect leakage or bleeding caused by new abnormal vessels under your retina – detectable with fluorescein angiography; while an instrument called optical coherence tomography provides very detailed images of both retina and macula; both tests can show whether new abnormal blood vessels exist within both structures.

Your doctor can also recommend a diet rich in nutrients to keep you at risk or in recovery from wet macular degeneration, especially if it has already been diagnosed. Harvard Medical School’s Making Sense of Vitamins and Minerals report can assist you in understanding when and why exceeding RDA amounts might be acceptable as well as providing tips on selecting food rich in essential vitamins and minerals such as breakfast, lunch and dinner menu samples featuring ample vitamins and minerals for an enjoyable diet plan.