At present, there is no cure for dry AMD; however, there may be ways to slow its progress. According to research by the National Eye Institute’s AREDS study, taking a high-dose formulation of antioxidants and zinc could prevent loss of vision caused by AMD.

People living with dry AMD should seek regular dilated eye exams and use an Amsler grid to monitor changes to their central vision. If any significant shifts occur, contact your eye care provider immediately.

Drugs

There are currently available medications that may slow down macular degeneration and even improve vision, by inhibiting abnormal new blood vessel growth (anti-VEGF therapy). Injections into your eyes may need to take place regularly and require you to numb them prior to receiving injections.

Dry AMD is one of the most prevalent forms of age related macular degeneration, in which your macula gradually thins over time and small protein deposits known as drusen begin to form, gradually altering your central vision but without affecting peripheral vision. While dry AMD can lead to blindness over time, it usually progresses gradually and can often be effectively treated using eyeglasses and nutrition.

Wet AMD may be less common, but its consequences are more serious. When abnormal new blood vessels form and leak fluid into the macula, you could quickly lose central vision as soon as this disease progresses. Although treating wet AMD is difficult, medications exist that can prevent further progression of this condition.

BEOVU, approved by the FDA as an eye injection to treat wet age-related macular degeneration, works similarly to Lucentis or Eylea (aflibercept). Both medications require regular eye injections in order to block an abnormal protein that promotes new blood vessel growth in the eye.

BEOVU injections were found to improve the number of straight lines seen by individuals with wet AMD in two clinical trials that were approved, covering 336 sites throughout North and South America, Europe, Japan, Israel, Turkey Australia and New Zealand – with groups being similar with regard to age, race and sex.

Aspirin and other blood thinners can increase your risk of eye bleeding. Smoking should also be avoided and a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains should be prioritized.

Surgery

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), a progressive eye condition that damages the macula of your retina, is one of the leading causes of vision loss among people over 60. AMD causes blurry central vision, dark spots in your central vision or straight lines that appear wavy or crooked – this damage often does not lead to complete blindness but may restrict driving, reading or close work abilities.

Dry macular degeneration (DMD) is the most prevalent form of macular degeneration; abnormal blood vessels grow underneath the retina and leak fluid and scar tissue that eventually causes permanent loss of central vision. Wet AMD is less frequent but far more severe, where abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina but also leak blood and protein into the eye and damage macula tissue quickly; untreated, this form can quickly progress and result in severe vision loss in short order.

Both wet and dry forms of the disease may be treated effectively with injections of anti-VEGF drugs into the eye. These injections reduce abnormal blood vessel growth, thus slowing vision loss and preventing scar tissue formation. They can be given with numbing eyedrops so that injections are relatively painless; and may need to be repeated frequently in order to maintain effectiveness.

Other treatments for wet AMD include laser surgery and eye drops containing an anti-angiogenic agent to block new blood vessel formation that may bleed or scar. These therapies should typically be administered at either your physician’s office or an eye clinic over multiple visits.

There is no known way to prevent macular degeneration, though risk factors include age and family history. With each decade that passes, risk increases more rapidly; more frequently women than men experience it. Regular exams with an eye care professional should be undertaken if family history of this condition exists or you are over 60.

Diet

Macular degeneration is an eye condition in which central vision gradually declines, impacting your retina at the back of your eye that transmits visual signals to your brain. Central vision is required for reading, driving and seeing details like clock numbers or watch hands; peripheral (side) vision remains normal although straight lines may become wavy or blurry – there should not be total blindness as a result of macular degeneration.

Dry macular degeneration (DMD) is the most prevalent form of AMD, in which the macula gradually thins with age and tiny protein deposits known as drusen form under the retina, breaking down light-sensing cells and leading to gradual central vision loss. Unfortunately, no treatment exists for this form of AMD.

Wet macular degeneration (WMD) is less prevalent but more serious. In wet AMD, abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina and leak blood and fluids into it, eventually scarring your retina and leading to much faster central vision loss than dry AMD.

At present, there is no effective treatment for dry AMD. However, research has demonstrated that those with significant drusen or significant vision loss could benefit from taking specific nutritional supplements prescribed by their ophthalmologist. They will advise if this approach would be the most suitable way for them.

Diets that promote good vision include those that are low in fat while rich in vitamin A, C and E as well as minerals such as iron and zinc; exercise programs should also be made a part of daily routine and an ophthalmologist can assist you with developing one specifically tailored to you. Smoking increases risk for AMD as it accelerates progression; so if you are currently smoking it is crucial that you quit immediately.

Eyeglasses

The macula of the retina, also known as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is responsible for sharp, straight-ahead vision. If this part of your eye breaks down due to AMD, vision loss and blindness could result. Although AMD is an increasingly prevalent disease, there are treatment options that may delay further vision loss as well as slow its progression.

Dry Macular Degeneration is the most prevalent form of AMD and occurs when portions of the macula thin with age and protein deposits known as drusen form beneath the retina, leading to gradual vision loss as light-sensitive cells start breaking down in the macula. Early signs may include straight lines appearing wavy or an occasional blank spot in their vision; later symptoms could include complete loss of vision in one or both eyes.

Wet macular degeneration (WMD) is less common and more serious. It occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow beneath the retina and leak blood or fluid through leakage into scarred retinal tissue, leading to rapid vision loss. If you suspect you have wet AMD, please make an appointment as soon as possible with us so we can determine whether there are treatments available that could potentially help.

If you suffer from wet AMD, new treatments may be able to slow its progress and enhance visual acuity. We offer injections directly into the eye to inhibit abnormal blood vessel growth and stop bleeding under the retina; as well as laser therapy to shrink blood vessels and minimize fluid leakage.

UF Health ophthalmologists have recently made great advances in treating macular degeneration. With these advancements came a groundbreaking procedure whereby a tiny telescope is surgically implanted into an eye to improve vision. While still experimental, this technology allows patients with advanced macular degeneration to enjoy better quality of life than ever before. CentraSight telescope is smaller than a pea and uses micro-optical technology to magnify images that normally would appear centrally, enabling patients to lead normal lives while the technology magnifys images which would normally appear centrally, enabling patients to continue living normal lives while being treated.