![]() ![]() Stephen Reck spent his childhood as a Michigander before moving to the East Coast. If a laser is utilized nowadays, it is usually as an adjunct to anti-VEGF injections.ĭr. This procedure seals the blood vessels, keeping them from leaking blood or fluid under the macula. Laser treatments, conventional or “cold,” can be done to close off the abnormal blood vessels. Anti-VEGF treatments block the effects of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), a protein that promotes the growth of the abnormal blood vessels under the retina. Anti-VEGF drugs are delivered directly into the eye with an injection done by a retinal specialist. Wet AMD is currently most commonly treated with certain medications classified as the anti-VEGF class. Be sure and talk to your doctor before taking or increasing any supplements. Studies have found that high levels of zinc and antioxidants play a key role in slowing the progression of dry macular degeneration in advanced cases. ![]() If you are at risk for macular degeneration, it’s important that you have a comprehensive eye exam every one to two years. As the blood vessels grow, they become weak and fragile then often leak blood and fluid damaging the macula.Īlthough there is no cure for either type of AMD, early detection and treatment are the best defense against losing your vision. Wet AMD occurs when blood vessels in the back of the eye begin to grow abnormally. The “wet” form of macular degeneration occurs in only 10% of patients with AMD, but it accounts for 90% of all severe vision loss from the disease. Drusen breaks down the light sensing cells in the macula which can slowly blur and distort vision. Dry AMD occurs when small yellow deposits called drusen start to form and collect beneath the macula. The “dry” form of macular degeneration occurs in approximately 90% of patients with AMD. Visual symptoms patients may experience with AMD can be a dark or empty spot in the center of your vision, crookedness or waviness of straight lines, or distortion of words on a page you may be reading. Deterioration of central vision may occur over a period of a few years. The progression of AMD can be slow or rapid. Macular degeneration affects the central part of the vision, not peripheral vision – AMD rarely causes total blindness. High blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases.Although the exact cause of macular degeneration is unknown, several studies have shown that the following are risk factors for developing AMD: ![]()
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