About Macular Degeneration

No one has found a treatment or a cure for the dry form of age-related macular degeneration.

Antioxidants: Deficiencies in antioxidants (specifically zinc,meso- zeaxanthin, zeaxanthin and vitamins A, C, and E) have been noted in some people with age-related macular degeneration. Antioxidants may protect against age-related macular degeneration by preventing free radicals or unstable oxygen from damaging the retina.

The wet form of age-related macular degeneration is more likely than the dry form to cause significant vision loss. Different treatments of the wet form are available and may help decrease the amount of vision that is lost.

• Laser treatment: Clinical trials have demonstrated the value of laser treatment for some people with the wet form.
  
  
  • Laser treatment may stop or lessen vision loss in early stages of the disease.
    
    
  • A laser beam destroys existing blood vessels and may stop the growth of new ones.
    
    
  • A scar forms after the laser treatment. This produces a permanent loss of vision in that area of the retina, sacrificed in order to preserve the rest of the eye layer.
    
    
  • Vision usually does not improve after laser treatment. It works in about half the cases, and only a small number of people meet the criteria for laser treatment. Its limitations have prompted a search for other forms of therapy.
    
    
• Photodynamic therapy: In April 2000, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved this treatment. A light-activated drug called verteporfin (Visudyne) is given intravenously and uses a laser to close the abnormal vessels while leaving the retina intact. You may need several treatments over one to two years because closed blood vessels can reopen within the treated area. Because Verteporfin is activated by light, exposure to sunlight must be avoided for five days after treatment.
  
  

• There are several drugs used to treat Wet AMD called ANTI-VEGF drugs. Here is a breakdown of these drugs:

  There are several types of anti-VEGF drugs. One of them is the Macugen, which is the first anti-VEGF ophthalmic drug that gained approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This drug is injected to the back of the eye, and injections are given every six weeks for two years. It is reported that 27% patients treated with Macugen have better chance of avoiding progression into moderate visual loss.

  Lucentis is a VEGF antibody that was modified from the drug Avastin. This is probably one of the most encouraging drugs that could improve vision in a significant number of wet macular degeneration patients. In mid-July 2005, Genentech officials made this report, and perhaps for the first time Lucentis gives hope to medical scientists and patients as it was said to improve vision significantly instead of just slow down the progression of vision loss. Lucentis treatment requires injection directly into the eye every four weeks.

  Avastin is a drug used to treat colorectal cancer and is explored as a drug for treatment of wet macular degeneration (there are several debates going on about the effectiveness of Avastin, consult with your physician to see which drug will work best for you). Just like Macugen, this drug is injected directly in the eye and results had been positively encouraging. This drug is comparatively cheaper than other available drugs but further studies are required to determine its safety and effectiveness.