Treatment for wet macular degeneration can prevent severe vision loss and, in some cases, improve it. Treatment typically involves injections directly into the eye or painless laser treatments.

These treatments aim to inhibit the formation of abnormal blood vessels associated with wet macular degeneration. These therapies typically receive monthly administration.

Anti-VEGF Injections

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is a protein that promotes blood vessel formation within the body. While this substance is generally beneficial in wound healing and other bodily processes, excess VEGF levels may contribute to eye diseases like wet macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion and retinal vein occlusion. Anti-VEGF injections inhibit abnormal vessel growth that leads to fluid leakage which contributes to vision loss in wet AMD.

VEGF inhibitors are generally safe and effective treatments, though their administration must be frequent to avoid vision loss. Patients must visit an eye doctor on a regular basis for monthly or bimonthly injections – which for some can become an impediment to treatment and lead to poorer outcomes.

As part of efforts to reduce patient visits to eye doctors, several new anti-VEGF drugs have been developed with less frequent administration in mind. Beovu, a single dose formulation of brolucizumab recently approved by the FDA for wet macular degeneration treatment is administered intravitreally through a quick injection that takes mere seconds.

Anti-VEGF medicines work in much the same way, though their manufacturer claims theirs are more durable and can extend treatment intervals by more than once every four weeks. Furthermore, this drug includes gene therapy to increase its effectiveness by altering expression levels of the VEGF receptor in eye tissue.

The new medication has already been tested against Eylea, another FDA-approved anti-VEGF agent, and found to be comparable. With its extended dosing schedule it may make this drug attractive to retina specialists; however, its widespread adoption will need to wait until we learn more about its performance in real world settings.

Studies suggest that frequent injections may increase the risk of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), so it’s crucial to heed your optometrist’s advice on treating and monitoring IOP for optimal health. Optometrists are particularly knowledgeable about the effect anti-VEGF injections have on the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), so they are best placed to offer guidance regarding keeping IOP under control.

Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT), an experimental new treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration, involves using laser light combined with medication that targets an abnormal protein which promotes abnormal blood vessels. Initial testing on some patients has yielded positive results while more research needs to be completed in order to confirm its safety and effectiveness.

Wet age-related macular degeneration (Wet AMD) is an increasingly prevalent eye condition. This form of age-related macular degeneration occurs when abnormal, leaky blood vessels form under the retina in the central part of the eye known as the macula, often in response to an increase in vascular endothelial cell (VEGF) protein production and breakages in Bruch membrane. Neovascularization or Wet AMD may lead to severe vision loss including blind spots developing throughout visual field.

Early signs of wet age-related macular degeneration include straight lines appearing crookedly due to fluid from leaking blood vessels distorting vision, with straight lines appearing crookedly as they flow over them. An eye care professional can detect changes in your macula and signs of wet macular degeneration by conducting eye exams using dilation of pupils and an Amsler grid chart; regular exams should be scheduled with them once you are over 60 for early diagnosis and prevention of further vision loss.

Researchers employed PDT to treat 106 people suffering from wet macular degeneration at Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute in Baltimore and its satellite clinic in Maryland. Participants received regular monthly or bimonthly injections of an anti-VEGF medication in order to halt new blood vessel formation under their retina, thus slowing progression and staving off vision loss.

PDT differs from traditional laser treatments by not damaging healthy eye tissue in its wake. Laser light activates a photosensitizing drug that absorbs into abnormal blood vessels that contribute to wet macular degeneration, then they are treated with laser light in order to close them and stop further bleeding.

Laser Treatment

Wet macular degeneration occurs when abnormal blood vessels form beneath the retina (which provides light sensitivity at the back of your eye that enables vision). Over time, these blood vessels may leak or rupture, lifting off its original position and damaging it – leading to rapid and permanent vision loss. Laser treatment can stop wet AMD by cauterizing any abnormal vessels present.

Your eye care provider will administer drops to dilate (enlarge) your pupils before using a tool called a slit lamp to focus a painless laser light onto the retina and seal off leaking blood vessels while remaining non-destructive to macula. This procedure may slow the rate of vision loss or in some cases even improve it; but it cannot restore lost sight.

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT), another laser treatment option, uses a drug sensitive to light to treat some people suffering from wet macular degeneration. PDT works best when abnormal blood vessels causing wet AMD are far enough from the macula so as to not damage it directly; however, this procedure only proves successful in treating a small percentage of wet AMD cases and often does not improve vision.

Study results comparing laser treatment with observation indicated that it reduced risk of severe vision loss for those with advanced dry macular degeneration, but could not prevent wet macular degeneration for those who had already developed it. This large, well-designed study included five years of follow up.

Researchers are working hard to better understand wet macular degeneration, and also how to reverse its progression. They are investigating several approaches – including medications not approved by the FDA – as well as low vision aids that make life easier, from hand-held magnifying devices and taped books/magazines, tape-recorded books/magazines, playing cards with larger text, clocks with magnified text or more sophisticated systems that use video cameras to enlarge print.

Vitamins

Vitamins are organic substances produced by our bodies but in insufficient quantities to meet our daily needs. Vitamin cofactors and coenzymes play key roles in many metabolic processes (such as protein synthesis) by functioning as cofactors or coenzymes to ensure smooth functioning. Our bodies need only small amounts of vitamins in order to stay healthy.

There are six main classes of vitamins: A, B complex, C, D, E and K. They can be further broken down into fat-soluble or water-soluble varieties; vitamins A, D and E belonging to this latter category dissolve easily in our fat stores, meaning daily supplementation isn’t required for these. Water-soluble alternatives include B vitamins as well as C.

Folic acid, niacin and vitamin B12 are necessary for maintaining good blood health, and can be found in food such as seafood, poultry, dairy products, meat, eggs, whole grains and legumes. Vitamin C is another essential nutrient, essential for maintaining healthy blood vessels, tissue and skin as well as producing collagen synthesis; you can find vitamin C sources such as strawberries citrus fruits and dark leafy vegetables.

Recent studies suggest that diets rich in carotenoids and antioxidants could help prevent or slow macular degeneration (AMD). Lutein and zeaxanthin, two well-studied carotenoids, can be found in green vegetables like spinach and kale as well as yellow, orange and colored fruits as well as nutritional supplements containing them; more research needs to be conducted into whether these vitamins help prevent or slow AMD progression.

The AREDS study demonstrated that nutritional supplements containing vitamins C and E, beta-carotene and zinc could reduce the risk of progression from early AMD to advanced AMD by approximately 28% for those with large intermediate drusen. Unfortunately, however, its effect is unknown on those with limited intermediate or multiple small drusen. Furthermore, implantable telescopic lenses have also proven successful at improving visual acuity.