Macular degeneration is an eye condition that leads to blurry or distorted straight ahead vision and, in some cases, blind spots within your visual field. Treatments are available that can slow this progression and enhance quality of life.

Anti-VEGF treatments help stop bleeding and leakage from abnormal blood vessels that form beneath the retina during wet macular degeneration. Such drugs include ranibizumab (Lucentis), pegaptanib (Macugen), and bevacizumab (Avastin).

Anti-VEGF Injections

VEGF, or Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, is produced in cells by cells to create new blood vessels. An overproduction of VEGF leads to abnormal blood vessels which leak fluid damaging fluid into the retina resulting in macular degeneration and vision loss; injections of anti-VEGF drugs are used to reduce this leaking and help restore vision.

Eye injections are most often administered in a clinic setting using either a small hand-held syringe with needle or specialized pump that allows an eye doctor to administer medications precisely where they’re needed in the eye. The procedure typically occurs under local anesthesia and generally takes only minutes, although mild discomfort and hemorrhaging or “floaters” at the injection site are possible side effects; patients should notify their eye doctor if discomfort worsens or vision appears to worsen afterward.

Patients on long-term anti-VEGF treatments must receive injections at regular intervals in order to stop new blood vessels forming and further vision loss, which requires ongoing patient adherence – which may prove challenging if elderly patients lack social support.

Ophthalmologists should focus on factors that predict post-injection pain in anti-VEGF injection patients to increase treatment adherence, as this will allow them to identify those at risk for adverse experiences and determine if weaning off treatment can safely take place.

Current treatments available to treat wet AMD are intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF drugs, and while most patients with this form of AMD benefit from them, adverse events associated with anti-VEGF agents can limit their use and negatively affect quality of life for some individuals.

Retina specialists may also recommend implantable devices that slowly release an anti-VEGF medication such as ranibizumab over six months – known as Susvimo port-delivery system, this FDA-approved port-delivery system provides continuous release of ranibizumab to treat wet age-related macular degeneration in patients who have responded well to at least two intravitreal injections of ranibizumab.

Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) uses light to activate a chemical reaction and destroy abnormal tissue, either alone or combined with other treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy or radiation. PDT may be particularly effective at treating early stage esophageal cancer as it reduces tumor size while stopping them from spreading further.

As part of an in-office procedure, patients receive a photosensitizing solution which may be either applied topically or injected directly into the area to be treated. Once it has been absorbed by tissue, a laser emitting a wavelength of blue light is directed at this area for seventeen minutes to interact with photo sensitizing chemicals that form oxygen radicals that destroy precancerous cells and tissue.

Once treatment has concluded, patients’ skin will be washed and moisturized to keep it soft and smooth. Some individuals may experience tingling, warm sensations or burning sensations at this stage; to protect their eyes from sun or bright artificial lighting after their treatment has concluded, patients are recommended to wear protective clothing such as wide-brimmed hats for up to one month post treatment.

This non-invasive therapy for precancers is extremely well tolerated by patients and requires less downtime than other treatments. Furthermore, this procedure doesn’t cause crusting and inflammation as would occur with other approaches to cancer prevention.

PDT can be performed alongside chemotherapy, ionizing radiation therapy or surgery without jeopardizing their efficacy. Furthermore, PDT may be useful in targeting areas that cannot be reached with traditional means – for instance organ linings.

Research has demonstrated that when combined with inhibitors of the Hippo pathway – which regulates cell growth – photodynamic therapy can effectively and completely destroy cancerous cells. Furthermore, photodynamic therapy has also proven its worth as a means to decrease tumor count after radiation treatments are conducted.

Photodynamic therapy also has the added advantage of being combined with radiation or surgery for advanced cancers, increasing survival rates while helping patients remain on treatment longer. However, its efficacy will depend on both patient and tumor type factors.

Eylea Injections

Eylea (Aflibercept) was recently approved by the FDA as an injectable solution that blocks abnormal blood vessel growth and decreases fluid leakage in the eye. It works by blocking vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and placental growth factor (PlGF), two natural proteins responsible for stimulating new vessel formation in eyes. Too high levels of these two growth factors lead to wet age-related macular degeneration (WAMD), in which new blood vessels form beneath retina and leak blood and fluid into macula, leading to distortion and blurring of central vision; It’s one of the primary causes of blindness among people over 65.

Aflibercept is a recombinant human fusion protein that acts as an inhibitor of both VEGF and PlGF. When taken for wet AMD, Aflibercept slows progression by blocking VEGF production and decreasing blood vessel permeability within the eye; in turn preventing fluid build-up that leads to edema of retina.

Clinical trials conducted with Aflibercept have demonstrated its efficacy in patients suffering from wet age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema as well as those suffering from diabetic retinopathy and proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Furthermore, Aflibercept showed promise as a treatment option for macular edema caused by branch retinal vein occlusion.

There is the risk of infection inside the eye, retinal detachment, and increased eye pressure when taking Eylea, so patients must discuss its risks and benefits with their physician before beginning an injection procedure. A special needle must be used, with aseptic injection technique being vital in avoiding infections. Patients should report any redness, eye pain, movement in their field of vision or increased eye pressure to their healthcare provider immediately.

As with any medication, Aflibercept can cause side effects. The most frequently reported ocular adverse reactions during VISTA and VIVID-DME studies included conjunctival hemorrhage, eye pain and cataract. Other treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) related to Aflibercept include hypertension and nasopharyngitis – occurring at similar rates compared with control groups; potential arterial thromboembolic events (nonfatal stroke, myocardial infarction or even death) occurred at similar rates as controls; reports were reported at similar rates with control groups as well.

Laser Surgery

Laser surgery uses a highly focused beam of light to destroy abnormal blood vessels that leak fluid and damage retina, stopping or slowing vision loss while possibly leaving behind permanent blind spots where the laser touched your eye. While laser surgery cannot cure macular degeneration wet, it may provide temporary relief while leaving behind permanent blind spots where laser was applied.

Your doctor may recommend laser photocoagulation, an outpatient procedure using laser technology to seal leaky blood vessels and prevent further retina damage. Medication may also be prescribed to reduce future risks of new vessel growth or bleeding.

Are You Eligible for Laser Eye Surgery for Wet Macular Degeneration? Your physician will conduct an exam and explain all available treatment options prior to proceeding with laser eye surgery for wet macular degeneration, which typically manifests itself by blurred central vision and an empty or dark spot in the center of your field of view – symptoms which may appear gradually or quickly and affect either eye at a time.

Wet macular degeneration occurs when deposits called drusen accumulate beneath the retina. While not necessarily indicative of advanced AMDR, such deposits increase your chance of developing wet-type AMDR, which accounts for 90% of severe vision loss among AMD patients.

In wet ARMD, abnormal blood vessels that cause vision loss expand and leak fluid into the macula, potentially leading to rapid and severe vision loss. Although laser photocoagulation can reduce fluid leakage and scarring on retinal layers quickly and effectively, it cannot reverse progression of wet macular degeneration or improve your vision.

If you suffer from wet macular degeneration, your doctor can use anti-angiogenesis drugs to halt the formation of new blood vessels and help improve your vision. These therapies have proven more successful than laser therapy at reversing vision loss in some patients; however, it requires multiple office visits for optimal results. In addition, fluorescein angiography involves injecting yellow dye into one vein before taking pictures with a special camera of how this travels throughout your system and onto your retina.