Wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels form beneath the retina and leak blood and fluid, potentially causing scarring that leads to severe vision loss.

Eye care professionals treat wet AMD by targeting new blood vessels that form and destroying them using laser light therapy.

Anti-VEGF Drugs

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is a protein produced by our bodies that facilitates new blood vessel formation, helping heal wounds quickly and increase circulation. While excessive production of VEGF may help in healing wounds and increasing circulation, too much VEGF production can lead to abnormal vessel growth and fluid leakage that cause vision loss in diseases like wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion. Anti-VEGF injections work by blocking its action thereby stopping abnormal blood vessel growth as well as leakage of fluid into our eyes that cause macular edema or scarring which results in severe vision loss.

These medications are administered through injection with a thin needle into the back of your eye, with your eye doctor first cleansing and anesthetizing your eye prior to injection in order to reduce infection and pain. Multiple injections over many months will be given in order to effectively treat wet AMD; side effects from treatment can include itching and watering in your eyes as well as increased intraocular pressure or bleeding at injection site; however these should typically resolve within several days.

Photodynamic therapy may also be an effective treatment option for some wet AMD patients. PDT uses non-toxic photosensitizers activated by specific wavelengths of light to create reactive oxygen species which damage and eliminate any neovascularization that arises as part of wet AMD. PDT therapy can reduce fluid buildup in the eye that leads to macular edema as well as slow its progression, which are both important components in managing wet AMD effectively.

Recent research1 examined subclinical changes to blood-aqueous barriers and retinas caused by anti-VEGF drugs like Aflibercept (Eylea, Regeneron), Brolucizumab (Beovu, Novartis), and Faricimab (Vabysmo, Roche). Researchers discovered that implicit times of flicker electroretinography were transiently extended when treated with these anti-VEGF agents due to their strong VEGF suppressive actions. They speculate that this might be due to these drugs’ potent VEGF suppressive activity.

Laser Surgery

Laser surgery is a technique in which light beams are used to cut or destroy tissue, guided by the surgeon to target specific areas with precision and accuracy. Lasers have become an invaluable asset in medicine for cataract removal, correct vision issues and treating other eye problems, while making surgeries that were once difficult or impossible possible with traditional scalpels possible – for example removing birthmarks and tattoos using cosmetic laser surgery procedures.

Laser surgery uses high-energy light emitted by lasers directed through lenses or mirrors and directed towards an area of body tissue, where its energy absorbs by cells that then heat up, destroying or vaporizing unwanted tissue and leaving behind small holes or scars that don’t harm healthy surrounding tissue. Laser surgery is much faster and more reliable than traditional methods; results tend to be superior; blood loss is minimalized and infection risk reduced considerably with this method of operation.

The type of laser used during eye surgery depends on the condition being addressed. A YAG laser is frequently utilized during cataract removal procedures; specifically its capsulotomy feature opens the natural capsular bag that holds an intraocular implant for clear vision restoration after cataract removal. A YAG laser may also be utilized post-op to treat new cataracts that appear months or even years post surgery.

Photocoagulation laser surgery is another example of laser surgery used to treat diabetic retinopathy by reducing fluid buildup in retinal tissue through obliterating leaky vessels and reflex vasoconstriction – also helping with macular edema caused by proliferative diabetic retinopathy. This form of laser surgery may also assist with macular edema caused by proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Laser technology is now being utilized to remove plaque from people’s arteries, which can contribute to heart attacks or strokes. Prior to their invention, doctors relied on scalpels as the only method for clearing away the deposits in people’s arteries; but now, lasers make this task simpler and safer than ever before – potentially clearing away clogged arteries that prevent blood flow normally and contributing to heart attacks and strokes.

Eye Patches

Eye Patches are an effective and cost-efficient solution to lazy eye (amblyopia). Available through various small businesses founded by parents of children with amblyopia, these patches come in cloth or hard forms and may need to be worn over or inside glasses – though you must ensure it fits appropriately for your child and was selected by their eye doctor. It’s essential that the patch be comfortable for your child and covers their pupil completely – some prefer clear plastic while others opt for fabric options like socks or bandanas as an occluder occluder may work better; some find clear plastic works best while others prefer fabrics like socks or bandanas when covering eyes that have amblyopia symptoms.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a condition in which gradual loss of central vision occurs in the retina – light-sensitive tissue located behind the eyeball. Breakdown of macula tissue is one of the primary causes of blindness among adults over 65, though several treatments exist that can slow its progress and even help restore lost sight in wet AMD cases.

Wet macular degeneration occurs when new blood vessels grow under the retina, leaking fluid and lifting up the macula from its usual position. The presence of fluid or an elevated macula interferes with light’s ability to be converted into electrical impulses that travel back through to your brain and form images, eventually blurring or even losing central vision entirely. People suffering from wet AMD tend to initially experience blurred central vision before suffering severe vision loss quickly over time.

Dry macular degeneration (AMD) is less severe and progresses gradually, often manifesting itself with blurry vision and described by its victims as seeing through a gray fog. At UF Health’s Retina Specialists we recommend annual eye exams to detect early signs of dry AMD as well as vitamin supplements proven to slow its progress.

Age-related macular degeneration risk factors include having a family history of the condition, smoking cigarettes and being over 50. Eating plenty of fresh green vegetables and fish may help delay or prevent its onset.

Vitamins

Vitamin supplements may help impede dry macular degeneration and preserve vision longer. The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) discovered that individuals taking a specific high dose formulation of antioxidants and zinc had a reduced risk of moving on to advanced macular degeneration with associated vision loss. Your doctor can advise if this supplement regimen would be suitable for you. Your ophthalmologist may also recommend additional tests to assess your progress, such as fluorescein angiography – in which yellow dye is injected into an arm vein and photographed as it travels through blood vessels of your retina – and optical coherence tomography which provides very detailed images of both retinas and maculas.

Nutritional supplements may help slow the progression of dry macular degeneration, but they cannot reverse any lost vision. Speak with one of Catalina Eye Care’s ophthalmologists or optometrists about which supplements might work for you and why; also include green, yellow and orange vegetables and fruits in your diet as they will protect your eyesight as well.