New research shows promising results in treating dry macular degeneration. Clinical trials are ongoing to ascertain if this innovative therapy can actually treat AMD.

Macular degeneration can cause irreparable vision loss if left untreated, so make an appointment to meet with one of Dr. Richlin & Associates’ retina specialists and receive your personalized diagnosis and treatment plan.

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)

Photodynamic therapy uses a cream containing porphyrin, an naturally-occurring chemical substance found in nature, when exposed to light of certain colours it activates its molecules, leading to the release of substances which attack cancer cells without harming normal skin cells. It can be used to treat conditions like actinic keratosis and precancerous mouth lesions known as leukoplakia as well as early stage skin cancer or relieving symptoms from non-small cell lung cancer that do not respond well to other treatments.

PDT may help preserve vision in patients suffering from wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels form under the retina and leak fluid or blood, creating a large blind spot in the center of your vision. While dry macular degeneration is less damaging to macula tissue than wet AMD, both conditions can eventually cause permanent blindness in your visual field; when treated early wet AMD can even be reversed and vision restored.

Under photodynamic therapy (PDT), a photosensitizer is administered either subcutaneously or topically and left on for one or several days. This photosensitizer – made of aminolevulinic acid or ALA – can be found both plants and animals; its active form only becomes active upon exposure to certain wavelengths of light that penetrate tissues to cause oxygen release, killing cancer cells and shrinking tumors.

PDT may be used alone or in combination with surgery, radiation and chemotherapy for various forms of cancer treatment, but is most beneficial when applied to superficial and early stage disease.

Photodynamic therapy market growth can be attributed to multiple factors. Rising cancer incidence, growing demand for minimally invasive procedures and awareness about early detection are just a few. Furthermore, financial strain caused by rising cancer cases as well as rising preference for cost-effective solutions is expected to further stimulate market expansion.

Anti-Angiogenesis Drugs

Laser treatment may be effective in helping those living with wet macular degeneration prevent further vision loss. Aflibercept (or Lucentis ophthalmic solution) works by blocking vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

An eye care specialist will use laser light to target the macula to destroy abnormal blood vessels forming under the retina in wet AMD, which are responsible for leaking fluid and distorting or blurring vision.

Condition is caused by the degeneration of the central portion of retina known as macula, which contains photoreceptor cells that detect light and send signals to the brain. Over time these photoreceptors become damaged from age related damage and eventually stop functioning completely, leading to vision loss. Symptoms include dark spots in the center of visual field which interfere with reading, driving or seeing faces or details in objects.

No treatment currently exists for dry macular degeneration; however there are ways that can help slow its progression. Eating a diet rich in leafy green vegetables, fruit and fish will go a long way to helping protect against dry macular degeneration. Supplementation such as lutein and zeaxanthin may also help lower risk.

Studies suggest that anti-angiogenic drugs may help slow down the progression of wet AMD by blocking VEGF protein, which stimulates new blood vessel formation and scar tissue formation in retina. While such medication are being used to treat cancer and other diseases, their effectiveness in macular degeneration prevention or cure has yet to be demonstrated.

As for now, you can help keep your eyes healthy by getting regular eye exams and supplementing with vitamin C, E, lutein, zeaxanthin, zinc copper and omega 3 fatty acids from Dr. Richlin OD & Associates. Your optometrist at Dr. Richlin, OD & Associates may also suggest fluorescein angiography where yellow dye is injected into a vein and photographed for any new blood vessels coming under your retina to detect.

Vitamins and Minerals

Dry macular degeneration can be effectively treated by taking a daily dosage of vitamins and minerals, specifically those rich in antioxidants that may slow its progress and protect your eyes. Vitamin and mineral supplements are an essential part of good overall health; you can find these essential nutrients in many fruits, vegetables, animal products and dairy products; however if diet is inadequate to meet this need you can supplement with vitamins and minerals supplements as an additional treatment method.

The National Eye Institute recently published research indicating that supplementing with antioxidants and zinc may help slow progression to advanced AMD. The supplement formula features lutein, an antioxidant found in dark green leafy vegetables, omega 3 fatty acids found in fish oil and other sources, vitamin C found in citrus fruits such as lemons and oranges, among others as being key factors in decreasing macular degeneration risk.

A clinical trial published in 2001 indicates that eating a diet rich in lutein, zeaxanthin, copper and vitamins C and E significantly decreases your risk of dry macular degeneration by 25% and reduces vision loss significantly if you already suffer from this condition.

Wet macular degeneration occurs when unhealthy and abnormal blood vessels grow beneath the retina and leak fluid, leading to sudden and severe loss of central vision (although peripheral vision remains unchanged). Anti-VEGF injections can help stop abnormal vessels from expanding, leaking and bleeding beneath your retina.

To halt macular degeneration’s progression, make sure to follow your physician’s recommendations regarding diet and exercise as well as managing other medical conditions like high blood pressure or heart disease. Smoking increases your risk for macular degeneration; regularly seeing an ophthalmologist will also help in this respect.

Laser Surgery

Macular degeneration is an eye condition that affects your central vision. It results in blurring of central vision, making it more challenging to perform activities requiring sharp, straight-ahead focus such as driving or reading. However, this does not result in blindness because peripheral (side) vision remains intact. It usually happens gradually over time as part of the natural aging process; however, over time it may become more severe. Macular Degeneration (MD) is caused by damage to the macula, often as a result of aging or certain medical conditions. There are two forms of macular degeneration – dry and wet. Dry macular degeneration is more prevalent and occurs when parts of your macula become thinner with age; protein deposits called drusen begin accumulating within your macular, leading to central vision loss. There’s no treatment available for dry AMDD; however you can delay its progression by eating healthy and having regular eye exams with Dr Rowan.

About 10% of those diagnosed with AMD progress into its more serious wet form, which occurs when abnormal blood vessels form under the retina and start leaking blood or fluid, leading to rapid loss of central vision. Although wet macular degeneration occurs less frequently than its dry counterpart, it accounts for 9/10 blindness from AMD.

Laser surgery may provide relief for certain forms of wet macular degeneration, using high energy light beams to destroy new blood vessels that grow around the retina, thus halting further vision loss. While laser treatment alone isn’t successful for everyone with wet ARMD, anti-angiogenesis medications may help improve results.

Other strategies exist for protecting vision from macular degeneration, including wearing sunglasses and taking enough vitamins C, E, zinc and beta carotene – consult with your doctor about any dietary supplements that could reduce risk of macular degeneration – plus low vision aids or rehabilitation programs that may assist you adapting to changing vision levels.