Treating Macular Degeneration What You Should Know

Untreated macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of blindness in those over 65 years old.

While researchers have not yet discovered a cure for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), there are treatment options that prevent the disease from progressing to blindness. In some cases, they can even improve vision. It’s essential to have an open discussion with your eye doctor about the risks and limitations of AMD treatments.

Young woman at phoropter at optician or ophthalmologist for eye test

Types of Macular Degeneration

There are two basic types of AMD, the wet form and the dry form.

Dry macular degeneration is considered the less aggressive form of AMD, and it typically progresses much more slowly, and the level of eyesight damage is less severe. Dry AMD is detected during routine eye health exams, which is why it’s important to have yearly testing. Treating Dry AMD often involves high doses of zinc and antioxidants, which have been shown to slow disease progression.
Wet macular degeneration is the more severe form of AMD. It occurs when abnormal blood vessel growth (angiogenesis) and leakage, which can cause scar tissue to develop. Treatments include laser surgery, injecting light-sensitive dyes, or AMD medication injected directly into the eye to inhibit angiogenesis.

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AMD is an age-related eye disease that runs in families and is a leading cause of blindness in our aging population. There is no cure for this ocular disease, and AMD-related vision loss cannot usually be recovered. There are treatments, and preventative measures that can be taken, if detected early, so routine eye health exams are essential.

Special thanks to the EyeGlass Guide for the informational material that aided in creating this website. Visit the EyeGlass Guide today!

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