Watchful waiting may be adequate for dry macular degeneration, while early treatment of wet AMD may minimize or reverse vision loss. Wet AMD develops when abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina and leak fluid or bleed, leaving your eye water-logged.

Most wet AMD patients are treated with medication injections such as Lucentis, Eylea or the recently approved Beovu (brolucizumab). These require eye injections every 4-8 weeks.

VEGF Inhibitors

Wet (exudative) macular degeneration occurs when abnormal blood vessels form beneath the retina and leak blood or fluid, causing maculae to bulge and distort vision. Left untreated, wet macular degeneration leads to permanent loss of central vision; prompt treatment may slow, minimize, or in some cases reverse vision loss. A telltale sign of wet AMD is fluid under the retina that causes straight lines to appear wavy or curved or objects appear smaller than they actually are – regular testing using an Amsler grid will detect early symptoms so wet macular degeneration can be avoided altogether.

Eye injections that target vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) may stop fluid leakage and improve vision. Two drugs, Lucentis and Eylea are approved to treat wet macular degeneration; another new treatment, Vabysmo also blocks VEGF and could reduce the number of injections needed over time.

These medications are injected directly into the clear jelly-like substance inside of your eye (vitreous). You will be given numbing drops prior to receiving this injection from your eye doctor; the process should be quick and painless; some people may experience blurry or floater-like vision for up to several days, however this should resolve itself shortly afterwards.

These medications may be costly, but they can significantly improve quality of life and stop further vision loss. Many insurance companies and government programs provide assistance for patients. Furthermore, experimental anti-VEGF therapies like Abicipar – using an implanted port in an operating room to store and release Lucentis slowly over time – and RGX-314 (using gene therapy to deliver artificial proteins that block VEGF) may extend duration. Other pharmacologic approaches also being explored, including devices designed to hold and slowly release Lucentis over time as well as port delivery systems for drugs like brolucizumab (which uses gene therapy to deliver artificial proteins that block VEGF). Additionally, experimental anti-VEGF therapies including Abicipar and RGX-314 gene therapy deliver artificial proteins which blocks VEGF. Other pharmacologic approaches explored include devices designed to hold and slowly release Lucentis over time while others such as device designed to deliver it at set intervals are being explored such as holding and slow release systems using brolucizumab delivery system port delivery system are being investigated, alongside port system for drug brolucizumab which use port delivery system port system.

Photodynamic Therapy

Some individuals with dry macular degeneration develop wet eye AMD. In wet AMD, abnormal blood vessels grow beneath the retina and leak fluid into it resulting in choroidal neovascularization (CNV), leading to distorted vision as straight lines appear wavy. Early treatment can slow or reverse vision loss from wet eye macular degeneration.

Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections used to treat wet eye macular degeneration are known as VEGF inhibitors. Medications like Lucentis (ranibizumab), Eylea (aflibercept) and Bevacizumab (Avastin) all work by blocking VEGF production from within your body that leads to formation of unhealthy blood vessels threatening sight. The injections are delivered using small needles that create self-sealing entry sites directly into the eye for maximum effect.

Photodynamic therapy and thermal laser surgery can both provide solutions for wet eye macular degeneration. PDT relies on an oral medication called verteporfin, administered through bloodstream into eye. When applied directly with light to retina, verteporfin activates and kills off abnormal blood vessels that leak fluid.

After PDT, you may experience a sunburn-like reaction for 2 to 4 days as your retinal pigment epithelium regrows healthy new cells to replace those damaged by light exposure. Your doctor may advise staying out of sunlight to facilitate its full healing process and ensure optimal healing outcomes for you and your retinal condition.

PDT treatment should be spread out over three years for optimal results, although our physicians at VRMNY use both PDT and VEGF inhibitors for wet eye macular degeneration, with visual outcomes generally similar between them. Should one prove superior, our physicians will switch between them accordingly in order to maximize results for our patients.

Thermal Laser

Some individuals with wet age-related macular degeneration also suffer from choroidal neovascularization, where abnormal blood vessels form underneath the retina and leak fluid into scar tissue that eventually results in vision loss. Symptoms may include straight lines becoming distorted and blind spots developing centrally; laser surgery has proven very successful at providing treatment without injections being required as often.

Anti-VEGF medications, such as Lucentis, Eylea and Avastin injections directly into the eye are the go-to treatments for wet AMD. While effective at helping maintain central vision for patients with wet AMD, their frequent administration can be challenging to manage for some individuals and their families.

Photocoagulation, an older form of laser surgery used to treat wet AMD, involves dissolving blood vessels beneath the retina with an intense beam of light from either an argon blue-green laser or krypton red laser and is known as thermal photocoagulation – typically performed alongside injections for optimal results.

Photodynamic therapy or PDT may also be effective in treating wet macular degeneration, using both medication and laser light therapy to destroy abnormal blood vessels under the retina. Intravenously administered verteporfin is activated as it travels through your eye with special laser light activating its effect before being destroyed by laser. PDT requires several sessions over three years but may prove more cost-effective in terms of preventing further vision loss than medications alone.

Lucentis

Lucentis is an anti-VEGF drug. It works by binding to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), an antagonistic compound which could stimulate more blood vessels to grow within the retina, potentially leading to leakage that compromises vision and sight loss.

Lucentis has been demonstrated in clinical trials to significantly improve vision in those suffering from wet macular degeneration (AMD), helping on average patients gain 21 letters on an eye chart specialized for AMD patients. This represents a dramatic improvement over its natural course which typically leads to legal blindness for approximately 90% of individuals left untreated with AMD.

Lucentis has also been proven to help stabilize vision in those suffering from wet macular degeneration. Studies conducted using monthly injections of Lucentis or placebo for one year found that 34-44% had improved visual acuity while 12-18% received the placebo saw improvements in their vision.

Lucentis, like other VEGF inhibitors, can cause increased floaters and side effects such as eye pain and elevated intraocular pressure. While severe adverse reactions are rare, such as an infection of the eye or retinal detachment.

If you would like more information about the benefits of VEGF inhibitors, schedule an appointment with one of our retina specialists. They are happy to work with you to identify a treatment option that can best improve both your health and vision.

At VRMNY, we provide all of the latest medications for macular degeneration, and low vision aids to maximize current vision. Incorporating healthy eating habits may also help decrease your risk of macular degeneration; try eating more spinach and collard greens rich in lutein and zeaxanthin; these nutrients have been proven to protect eyes from macular degeneration by blocking blue light and decreasing fluid buildup in retina.

Eylea

Eylea is an injectable medication similar to Lucentis and Avastin (bevacizumab) that works to inhibit abnormal blood vessel growth that contributes to wet macular degeneration. When administered intravitreally, Eylea can treat macular edema caused by wet AMD, Diabetic Retinopathy, Retinal Vein Occlusion or Retinal Vein Occlusion as well as Retinal Vein Occlusion resulting in diabetic Macular Edema or DME).

These new treatments belong to a class of therapeutics known as biologics. Unlike traditional drugs which are produced chemically in a laboratory, biologics are actually antibodies or fragments of antibodies produced by your own body as part of its immune response system. Biologic therapies aim to target specific factors that trigger abnormal blood vessel growth and leakage that leads to wet eye macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and retinal vein occlusion; by blocking something called Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor or VEGF, their damage can be reduced significantly – saving both eyesight!

Eylea was shown to be effective at slowing vision loss from wet eye macular degeneration during FDA-approved trials, typically leading to less than three lines lost from their standard eye chart over one year of treatment with Eylea monthly injections.

Eylea is safe for most people; however, serious side effects may include allergic reaction, eye pain or redness, swelling or puffiness around the eyes and vision problems. If these side effects become bothersome or occur frequently it is important to notify your physician, particularly if severe. Also pregnant or breastfeeding women must disclose this drug due to unknown effects on breast milk production, while people with certain medical conditions such as heart disease or high blood pressure must consult their healthcare provider before beginning Eylea treatment.