Age-related macular degeneration comes in two forms, wet macular degeneration and dry macular degeneration. Dry macular degeneration often develops first and is characterized by a breakdown of the central area of the retina, the macula. Wet macular degeneration involves the growth of new blood vessels that invade the macula and cause vision loss. Both types occur most often in individuals over the age of 60. These two different types of AMD respond to different types of treatments.
VEGF Drugs
There are no FDA-approved medications available for the treatment of dry macular degeneration, but drugs do exist to treat the wet form. The drug pegaptanib sodium, sold under the brand name Macugen, inhibits blood vessel growth in the eye by destroying a protein called vascular endothelial growth factor, also known as VEGF, that is essential to blood vessel development. Ranibizumab, under the brand name Lucentis, was originally approved for treating colon cancer but monthly injections of the drug into the eye were later discovered to help destroy VEGF and curb the blood vessel growth that causes wet macular degeneration. An unapproved form of ranibizumab, branded Avastin, is still undergoing clinical trials to compare its efficacy to that of Lucentis.
Photodynamic Therapy
Photodynamic therapy involves injection of a drug named Visudyne into the arm of wet AMD patients, which is then activated by a low-energy laser aimed into the eye. Activated Visudyne then proceeds to set off a chemical reaction that destroys new blood vessels invading the macula. This provides a temporary slowdown of the progression of macular degeneration, but cannot stop the disease entirely.
Laser Photocoagulation
Laser photocoagulation is another treatment option available only to the 15 percent to 20 percent of wet AMD sufferers who exhibit a specific pattern of bleeding under the retina, according to All About Vision. These individuals undergoing laser photocoagulation have the abnormal blood vessels in their eyes sealed off using a laser. This treatment is not used often, though, because a side effect is the appearance of small scars on the retina. It also cannot be used in the center of the macula because that would cause permanent loss of vision.
Nutritional Treatment
A formula called AREDS formula, developed by the National Eye Institute and sold under the brand name Ocuvite PreserVision, is a specific blend of antioxidants found to be helpful in slowing the progression of dry macular degeneration and preventing it from developing into wet AMD. Individuals can also combine vitamin supplements themselves to ensure an intake of the proper doses of the nutrients involved. The specific nutrients and amounts include a daily dose of 500 mg of vitamin C, 400 IU of vitamin E, 80 mg of zinc, 2 mg of copper and 15 mg of beta carotene or 25,000 IU of vitamin A, explains the University of Maryland.
