Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treatment

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

The macula (yellow spot) is a special area at the back of the eye responsible for sharp, central vision. It allows for detailed vision needed for tasks like driving or reading. However, if you are over 50, macular degeneration (AMD) can affect your vision. In older adults, it is a leading cause of irreversible legal blindness. It is more frequent and severe in smokers.

Types of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

• Dry AMD: This is the early stage of the disease. It starts with a slow deterioration of central vision. Over time, both eyes may be affected, often progressing faster in one eye. Unfortunately, central vision eventually deteriorates in both eyes.
• Wet AMD: Develops from dry AMD and is characterized by abnormal blood vessel formation in the macula. These abnormal vessels leak fluid and blood. If untreated, this leakage causes scar tissue that severely reduces vision. With treatment, it can revert to the dry type.

When to See a Doctor

Dry AMD progresses slowly. Early diagnosis allows for slowing vision loss with vitamin supplementation and a diet rich in dark green leafy vegetables. Regular eye exams are therefore crucial.

See an eye doctor if:

• You have difficulty seeing people at certain distances
• You struggle with transitions from dark to light
• You need more light than usual for reading

Wet AMD damages the macula more quickly. If you notice sudden changes in vision, particularly blurriness or distortion, see an eye doctor immediately. Once diagnosed, prompt treatment planning with an experienced ophthalmologist is essential.

Macular Degeneration Tests

• Comprehensive Eye Exam: Involves pupil dilation to examine the retina and detect damaged tissue.
• Visual Acuity Test: Measures how well each eye can see distant targets individually.
• Amsler Grid: Patients look at a grid of horizontal and vertical lines; AMD may cause missing, wavy, or distorted lines, or a dark spot in the center.
• Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT): A non-invasive imaging method that uses light to create cross-sectional 3D images of the retina, helping the doctor monitor disease progression and determine the need for injections.
• Fluorescein Angiography (FA): Uses a dye injected into a vein to visualize structural and functional changes in retinal blood vessels.

Treatment of Dry AMD

AREDS2 Vitamins, Multivitamins, and Dark Green Leafy Vegetables: Studies show that high concentrations of specific vitamins and zinc can reduce the risk of progression to wet AMD by 25%. Vitamins are currently the only treatment for dry AMD. Daily consumption of cooked or raw dark green leafy vegetables is recommended. Smokers should quit immediately.

Treatment of Wet AMD

Anti-VEGF Injections: Administered under sterile conditions directly into the eye, these injections block vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF),preventing severe vision loss in wet AMD. Many patients also experience improved vision. Initially, injections are given monthly, then gradually spaced out to maintain vision and prevent new abnormal vessel growth.