1. Undergo Photodynamic Therapy
Photodynamic therapy is a relatively conservative approach that looks to preserve the vision that you have remaining. It involves both cold laser surgery and drug therapy to halt the formation of abnormal blood vessels, and it does so in a way that's sensitive to the health of the eyes' rods and cones. Although photodynamic surgery may not completely halt the degeneration of your vision, it can at least help you sidestep some of the downsides of hot laser therapy and increase your chances of keeping your vision for longer. The surgery requires a recuperation time of about a week and surgeons recommend that patients stay out of the sunlight during recovery.
2. Surgery to Translocate the Macula
In some cases of macular degeneration, abnormal blood cells attach right below the fovea. In these cases, surgery can get more complicated. Surgeons often must move around the fovea, cornea, macula and other tissue using small forceps as well as a hot laser. Since it's unusual for abnormal blood vessels to attach directly to the fovea, this surgery is relatively uncommon.
3. Use High-Energy Laser Photocoagulation
Few people who have macular degeneration can undergo photocoagulation successfully, simply because the procedure depends intimately on where the abnormal blood vessels are. That said, as long as the blood vessels aren't situated right under the macula (an area ophthalmologists call the fovea), you might be a candidate for this hot laser surgery.
4. Medications to Stanch Growth of Endothelial Blood Vessels
These agents, known as anti-VEGF meds, are a relatively recent addition to the arsenal of ophthalmologists. There are three common drugs used to stanch macular degeneration: Macugen, Lucentis and Avastin. These drugs are administered differently and can have different effects, side effects and contraindications. However, they all work to prevent the abnormal blood vessels from continuing to grow and they're all injected right into the eye itself.
