Macular degeneration

Alternative Names

Treatment

There is no specific treatment for dry macular degeneration, although zinc supplements may slow the progression of the disease (see zinc in diet).

Laser photocoagulation (laser surgery to stop the leaking in choroidal blood vessels) may be useful in the early stages of the wet form of the disease. It involves the use of a thermal laser, which burns the abnormal, leaky blood vessels and stops them from spreading.

A newer treatment option for patients with wet macular degeneration is photodynamic therapy, which can be performed in a doctor's office. In this procedure, a light-sensitive medication called Visudyne (verteporfin) is injected into a vein in the patient's arm. The drug circulates through the body to the eyes. When a non-thermal laser is shone into the eyes, Visudyne produces a chemical reaction that destroys abnormal blood vessels. If the vessels grow back, the procedure can be repeated.

Photodynamic therapy is expensive and is not a cure, but it can be successful in managing a particular area of leakage from the choroid through the RPE.

Your physician may recommend that you use an Amsler grid to discover possible new leaks before scarring occurs.

Macugen, Avastin, Lucentis, and Kenalog are all medications that may also be used to treat the wet form of AMD. Each of these medications is injected directly into the eye at various intervals.

Low-vision aids and therapy can be vital to improvement of vision and quality of life.

Support Groups

AMD Alliance International is a nonprofit organization committed to raising the awareness level of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Their website, www.amdalliance.org, contains additional information and resources, including an Amsler grid. AMD Alliance International maintains a toll-free international hotline at 1 (877) AMD-7171.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Most people with mild dry macular degeneration will never have disabling central vision loss. However, there is no way to predict who will progress to a more severe form of the disease. This disorder results in the loss of central vision only -- macular degeneration cannot cause peripheral vision loss.

The wet form of macular degeneration often leads to significant vision loss.

Possible Complications

Loss of central vision may interfere with many activities of daily living. Reading may require magnification or may become impossible. The ability to drive may be lost.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your health care provider if you notice any dim or distorted areas in your vision. Routine dilated eye exams can monitor for the condition.