Treatments for Macular Degeneration
We specialize in diagnosing and treating a variety of retinal and macular conditions, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
About
Macular degeneration is the most common cause of loss of central vision in people over the age of 55.
It occurs in two forms: dry and wet degeneration.
Dry age-related macular degeneration
This is the more common type. It affects 9 out of 10 people who have AMD and progresses slowly. The damage can go unnoticed for years because it’s such a gradual process, resulting from the accumulation of metabolic material or pigment abnormality under the retina.
Wet age-related macular degeneration
Wet AMD is much less common, with only 1 in 10 people with AMD experiencing it. The affected person begins with underlying dry degeneration, of which a small percentage converts to the wet exudative form. This condition is more serious and requires expedient evaluation and treatment to preserve and at times recover central vision. Your optometrist will likely refer you to a retina specialist as this condition can result in severe vision loss within a couple of weeks.
Symptoms
- Blurry vision
- Reduced central vision
- Straight lines appear wavy
- Trouble recognizing details (i.e., faces)
- Seeing a dark, empty area, or blind spot in the centre of your vision
Diagnosis
Vision loss due to AMD can rarely be recovered, which is why early detection and intervention are crucial. It can often be detected by your optometrist during regular eye examinations.
Treatment
The treatments for macular degeneration vary depending on the type, but they’re often focused on stopping or slowing the macular damage to prevent vision loss.
At Œil Santé MD, we offer treatment options for both wet and dry AMD.
Treatments for Dry AMD
While there are no treatments found to effectively reverse dry AMD, research has found that certain vitamins and minerals can dramatically slow the condition’s progress. Our team can help determine what supplements, if any, can help treat your dry AMD.
Treatments for Wet AMD
Typically, treatments for wet AMD work by disrupting abnormal blood vessels in the retina and/or by preventing new blood vessels from forming there.
Some of the treatment options for wet AMD that we offer include intravitreal injections.
Read More About Intravitreal Injections
There are many different types of intravitreal injection medications available:
- Lucentis® (ranibizumab)
- Eylea® (aflibercept)
- Vabysmo® (faricimab)
- Avastin® (bevacizumab)
- Byoobiz® (ranibuzimab)
They work by blocking abnormal blood vessels, slowing their leaking, and thus reducing vision loss.
Intravitreal injections are performed by injecting the medicine with a very fine needle into the back of the eye. Our retinal specialists will clean the eye to reduce the risk of infection as well as administer an anesthetic to minimize discomfort.
Typically, patients receive multiple injections over the course of several months. In most cases, our patients’ vision stabilizes, and they see a significant improvement in their eyesight.