Macular degeneration is an eye disease that gradually blurs central vision. Typically, it starts out with dry macular degeneration when yellow deposits called drusen accumulate under the retina; but some people also develop abnormal blood vessels which leak fluid, speeding up vision loss (wet macular degeneration).

Treatment options exist for both types of macular degeneration. Newer treatments have proven more successful than laser surgery at delaying or halting further vision loss.

Anti-VEGF Injections

Anti-VEGF injection is currently the best treatment option available for wet macular degeneration (neovascular age-related macular degeneration). These drugs stop new blood vessels from growing that lead to leakage and bleeding of the macula, reduce macular edema and can even improve vision in some patients with wet macular degeneration. Prior to their availability, laser photocoagulation was often the only therapy available – unfortunately though this therapy often causes retinal damage, thus precluding any improvement of vision in most patients with wet macular degeneration.

Contrary to many surgical procedures, this one takes place at your eye doctor’s office. Anesthetic drops are administered before injecting an anti-VEGF medication into the vitreous humor – the back portion of your eye. A special needle with a pointed tip allows it to penetrate deep within the eyeball for faster delivery and greater results. Most complications usually subside within 24 hours such as subconjunctival hemorrhage which usually resorbs within days, seeing black dots (floaters) in your visual field or increased eye pressure.

These injections should be given on a monthly basis; additional injections may be necessary depending on the severity and speed of progression of your condition. If you notice sudden decrease in visual acuity, make an appointment with an eye doctor as quickly as possible because neovascularization may progress quickly.

Over a 12-month period, one third of patients treated with anti-VEGF injections according to an individualized treat-and-extend regimen were able to discontinue anti-VEGF therapy in at least one eye and had better vision than those who continued the injections. These data provide comforting evidence that use of anti-VEGF agents does not accelerate atrophy in wet AMD. Further prospective studies that include treatment-naive patients as well as standardization imaging must be conducted to confirm these findings, while further work needs to understand which factors determine a person’s ability or otherwise to maintain therapy in both eyes.

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)

Wet macular degeneration (AMD) is a form of macular degeneration characterized by abnormal blood vessel growth that leads to bleeding and swelling within the macula, creating distortion of central vision or blind spots. While only 10% of people affected with AMD suffer this form, wet AMD accounts for 90% of severe vision loss associated with the condition. Early signs of wet AMD can be detected during a comprehensive dilated eye exam; an eye doctor will ask about any prior history of macular degeneration before conducting tests using an Amsler grid grid (Amsler grid). This will determine how much central vision still remains within.

If an eye doctor suspects wet macular degeneration, their patient may be referred for a fluorescein angiography test. This involves injecting dye into an arm vein before taking pictures as the dye passes through blood vessels in the eyes and photographs are taken of retina as it passes. This provides a clearer view of macula tissue layers while aiding diagnosis of wet macular degeneration as it highlights abnormal vessels causing it.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT), also known as photodynamic drug delivery system (PDDS), utilizes a specific drug combined with low-energy laser beam to break down abnormal blood vessels that lead to wet macular degeneration. Visudyne was the first FDA-approved PDT drug; when exposed to light it activates chemical reactions that destroy and close off abnormal vessels in an approximately 30-minute procedure that doesn’t require anesthetics.

Modern treatments for wet macular degeneration have greatly reduced the risk of severe vision loss; however, treatment does not guarantee improvement of vision. Vision can rapidly deteriorate and lead to complete blindness in some instances, so it is vital that an Amsler grid and eye exam are regularly undertaken and Vitamin supplements taken daily may also help slow its progress; studies have revealed that patients taking antioxidants, zinc, vitamins C & E and lutein/zeaxanthin supplements had reduced risks of advanced macular degeneration.

Laser Surgery

Macular degeneration is a progressive eye condition which impairs your central vision for activities such as reading and driving, and may ultimately lead to blindness. Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness among people over 65; unfortunately there is no known cure; however there are treatments which may slow or even reverse its progress and even help improve vision in some cases.

There are two forms of macular degeneration – dry and wet. Wet AMD involves abnormal blood vessels leaking fluid under the retina that result in loss of vision. It often affects eyes who have already experienced thin macula due to dry AMD. Symptoms of wet macular degeneration include central vision loss as well as distortion in straight lines or wavy colors.

Laser surgery is another effective solution to wet macular degeneration, using high energy beams of light to destroy leaky new blood vessels that contribute to rapid vision loss in wet macular degeneration. However, this procedure should only be considered appropriate if these blood vessels have not grown away from the center of macula yet; otherwise it may result in permanent blind spots.

Your eye care provider will administer an eyedrop to dilate (enlarge) your pupil. A tool called a slit lamp then uses laser beams focused on your retina to seal off leaking blood vessels, thus stopping further macula damage. Your doctor may also perform fundus fluorescein angiography or optical coherence tomography (OCT), an imaging test in which yellow dye is injected into a vein in your arm, followed by pictures taken with special cameras of how this dye travels through its blood vessels – these images show them and whether newly developed blood vessels under your retina are leaking.

While macular degeneration cannot be reversed, nutritional supplements may help slow its progress and even stop its worsening. Consult with your ophthalmologist about which vitamins and minerals might work for you. Additionally, cutting back on tobacco use, eating healthily, managing cardiovascular conditions like high blood pressure or heart disease and having regular visits to see an ophthalmologist as well as conducting testing such as Amsler grids, OCT scans or fluorescein angiography tests can all reduce your risk.

Vitamin Supplements

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye disease characterized by the progressive thinning and break down of macula tissue – light-sensitive retina tissue responsible for providing detailed images at near and far distances – over time. Symptoms may include difficulty seeing straight lines or objects clearly, distortion (straight lines appearing bent or crooked), or loss of central vision.

Dry macular degeneration cannot be reversed, but some people may benefit from taking specific vitamins and minerals to slow its progression. These supplements can be taken orally or subcutaneously and could help extend your vision longer. Consult with an ophthalmologist about which ones may work for you.

A landmark study conducted by the National Eye Institute — Age-Related Macular Degeneration Studies or AREDS Study — demonstrated that diets rich in certain antioxidants and other nutrients, including vitamins C and E, zinc, polyphenols lutein and zeaxanthin, as well as whole grains, low-fat or fat-free milk products, dark leafy vegetables, poultry, fish, nuts beans fruits can reduce your risk of advanced macular degeneration. Choose diets which also avoid saturated and trans fats, sodium and cholesterol!

Your ophthalmologist can prescribe an eye-healthy diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables from around the globe. He or she can also advise whether nutritional supplements should be included as part of this lifestyle change; you can purchase these at any drugstore or health food store in your locality.

Westside Eye Clinic can provide intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF medicines that block abnormal blood vessels from growing, leaking and bleeding beneath your retina. You may require these injections regularly for many years. Wet AMD is an especially serious form of macular degeneration which causes permanent central vision loss when leakage develops from abnormal blood vessels under the macula, damaging retina. Unfortunately, it usually progresses quickly and people with Wet AMD are more likely to become blind than those who only have dry macular degeneration.