Age-related macular degeneration occurs in two forms, dry AMD (which affects over 85% of cases) and wet AMD, in which new blood vessels form under the retina that leak blood and fluid into it, leading to vision loss.

Treatment for wet AMD typically entails monthly eye injections; however, according to a new study some individuals suffering from wet macular degeneration may be able to discontinue these injections without further vision loss.

Medications

Eye injections with medications could prevent severe vision loss and slow the progression of wet macular degeneration (WMD). These medicines work by blocking vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which encourages abnormal blood vessels that form in WMD.

Lucentis and Avastin are two widely prescribed anti-angiogenic drugs used for wet macular degeneration treatment, having proven their efficacy by significantly improving vision in those suffering with wet ARMD. Unfortunately, these monthly injections into the eye may prove inconvenient for patients taking their medication regimen regularly – however now Beovu (brolucizumab) offers effective wet macular degeneration treatment at significantly fewer injections!

Wet ARMD occurs when new blood vessels form (neovascularization) beneath the retina in the macula and leak blood and fluid into the eye, damaging retinal cells and leading to gradual vision loss. This form of macular degeneration accounts for 90% of severe vision losses from macular degeneration; its causes could include tissue thinning, deposits under the retina known as drusen deposits or formation of new blood vessels.

Laser surgery may provide relief for wet macular degeneration in some cases. This procedure uses painless laser light to target and destroy new blood vessels, potentially improving vision by some degree while not expected to bring back lost sight caused by disease progression.

Visudyne drug therapy (Photodynamic Therapy, or PDT) may provide another effective solution for wet macular degeneration treatment. PDT involves injecting an eye drop that, when exposed to light, causes blood vessels to react chemically – inducing leakage or scarring and ultimately dissolving completely by breaking them down chemically and eliminating their presence altogether.

Schedule an appointment with your physician for a thorough discussion of wet macular degeneration treatments and to assess which ones would best fit you based on factors like overall health and the severity of symptoms, including any underlying conditions or ailments you may be dealing with. They’ll take all this into consideration as they tailor a personalized plan of care just for you.

Laser Surgery

Disease of the Macula (Maculopsorum maculare) affects the retina at the back of your eye that provides central vision to allow you to read and drive easily, see fine details clearly, maintain balance while moving around safely and maintain balance. At first it may only reduce fine details but doesn’t usually interfere with peripheral vision and movement – rather its peripheral effects remain intact as you maintain balance while moving about safely. As it progresses straight lines may appear crooked as blood vessel leakage lifts the macula and distorts your vision permanently, eventually leading to complete blindness in that part of your field of view.

Advanced AMD is incurable, but treatment may help slow or stop its progress and in some cases improve vision. Early detection is key to effective wet macular degeneration treatment – therefore it is wise to have regular eye exams even if there are no symptoms present.

One effective way of diagnosing wet macular degeneration is with an optical coherence tomography (OCT) test. This procedure scans your retina and structures beneath it in order to detect any new blood vessel growth or bleeding abnormalities. Fluorescein angiography also uses yellow dye injected through your arm that travels through blood vessels before being photographed of your retina and macula by a specialist; these images can show whether there are abnormal new blood vessels under your retina and if any are bleeding or abnormal growths underneath or not.

If you suffer from wet macular degeneration, one of the main treatments involves giving yourself regular injections of medication known as anti-VEGF therapy to block new abnormal blood vessels from growing and stop leakage of damaging fluid. Examples include Bevacizumab, Ranibizumab, and Pegaptanib; injections typically cause no discomfort for most people.

Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers recently conducted a study that suggests as many as one third of wet AMD sufferers may one day be able to safely discontinue receiving monthly injections without further vision loss; however, more large randomized clinical trials must first take place before physicians can make definitive recommendations regarding this form of therapy.

Photodynamic Therapy

There are two forms of age-related macular degeneration, dry and wet. Wet macular degeneration is characterized by abnormal blood vessel growth under the retina that leads to fluid buildup under the macula, distorting its shape. Unlike its dry counterpart, however, this disease does not result in sudden vision loss; instead people living with this form experience a gradual deterioration of central vision, making reading or driving increasingly difficult while usually maintaining peripheral vision.

Age-related macular degeneration is characterized by yellow deposits called drusen underneath the retina. Over time, these drusen deposits cause thin and dry retinal tissue which leads to new blood vessel development that leaks and distorts vision. A dilated eye examination will help detect this form of macular degeneration; symptoms may include blurry or blind spots in central vision, difficulty adapting to low light levels and being unable to recognize faces or colors.

Photodynamic therapy may provide relief to wet macular degeneration patients by slowing its progress and improving their quality of vision. During this procedure, photosensitizing liquid is injected into an arm vein and travels throughout the body before reaching eye blood vessels, where dye injected from this source focuses on abnormal vessels that leak and is activated with non-thermal laser light to seal off these leaks.

After the procedure, injections will be given in order to slow the progression of wet AMD. A medication called an anti-VEGFR may help stop new blood vessels from growing which are the primary source of wet AMD; bevacizumab is one such example among many available options.

Recent findings of a new study indicate that some individuals receiving treatment for wet macular degeneration could potentially discontinue monthly eye injections without further vision loss. While the study does not establish a timeline or predict which patients will be eligible to stop treatment altogether, it provides encouraging news.

Other Treatments

Wet age-related macular degeneration occurs when new blood vessels form under the retina in the eye (choroidal neovascularization or neovascularization). This process can cause scarring and vision loss. Neovascularization or choroidal neovascularization is driven by proteins called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). There are now medications available that target this protein directly, known as anti-VEGF therapy – currently treatments include Avastin, Lucentis and Eylea injections into each eye on a regular basis. Current treatments require series of monthly injections into one eye; currently treatment plans include Avastin, Lucentis and Eylea injections into each eye.

Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers recently conducted a groundbreaking study that revealed up to one-third of wet age-related macular degeneration patients may be eligible to discontinue eye injection therapy without suffering further vision loss, provided they received regular follow-up care and eye injection therapy was not discontinued prematurely. Their team studied 106 wet macular degeneration patients at both Johns Hopkins’ Wilmer Eye Institute and satellite clinic in Maryland before concluding this possibility for as many as 30 patients out of total cohort of 106 with wet age-related macular degeneration; their results demonstrated as many as 30 could stop their injection therapy without worsening vision loss if regular follow up care was ensured.

Initial signs of wet ARMD include straight lines appearing wavy or dark spots in your vision center, blurry central vision or less vibrant colors than before – caused by abnormal blood vessels developing and leaking blood and fluid; left untreated this could progress to severe visual loss and eventual blindness.

As soon as you suspect wet ARMD, seek treatment immediately by visiting an eye doctor. Your eye doctor will utilize a range of instruments, including an Amsler grid chart which can identify distortion in central vision. Depending on the severity of your condition, an ocular angiogram might also be recommended; during this procedure an orange-red dye injected through your arm travels through bloodstream and retina blood vessels before being released under retina for examination to look for any signs of wet neovascularization.