Understanding Age Related Macular Degeneration

Understanding Age Related Macular Degeneration

Every Lasik Surgeon in our network understands that one of the leading causes of vision loss among older Americans is Age-elated Macular Degeneration (AMD). The first step in the prevention of any eye disease is a regular eye exam that allows our doctors to identify issues like AMD.

The Cause of AMD

Age Related Macular Degeneration is a deterioration of the central region of the retina. The macula or central portion of the retina serves to focus central vision. This is essential to read, see fine detail, recognize faces or colors, and operate automobiles and other machinery.

Types of AMD

  • Dry macular degeneration – This, the most common form of AMD often results in depositing of lipids in the macula, which result from thinning and/ or aging of macular tissue.
  • Wet macular degeneration – Under 10% of those with dry AMD have it progress to neovascular, or Wet, AMD. This condition is when new blood vessels develop beneath the retina and then leak fluid and blood into the eye. When this occurs, permanent damage is caused to a person's retinal cells.

Prevention

Sunglasses that effectively guard against the sun's damaging UV rays and high energy visible (HEV) radiation are the best preventative measure. A healthy diet and exercise are also essential to the health of your eyes. Smokers who have early signs of AMD are also more likely than non-smokers to have their condition develop into advanced AMD.

Treatment for Age-related Macular Degenerations

Nutritional supplements that contain antioxidants and multivitamins contain zeaxanthin and lutein, lessen the likelihood of advancement in macular degeneration.  Vitamins are most helpful in the dry form which does not require injections.

With Wet AMD your eye doctor may also prescribe various oral vitamin therapies. Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) involves injecting Visudyne into your arm and activating it by shining a low-energy laser beam into your eye. Lucentis Treatments are monthly injections into the eye. In wet AMD, the Lucentis or Avastin injections are painless but often are necessary every few months.

 

According to many eye surgeons, Lucentis, Eylea and Avastin injections offer similar visual benefits.  Around half of the ophthalmologists in the United States prescribe Avastin as a first-line treatment for wet AMD. Avastin costs around $50 per average treatment which is significantly less expensive for patients than available alternatives such as Eylea, Lucentis or Beovu which range in cost from approximately $1,800 to $2,000 per average treatment.


For more information on a comparison of injections available for treatment of AMD, please see the “Comparison of Anti-VEGF Treatments for Wet AMD“ at the American Academy of Ophthalmology website.

Contact Us

The good news is that a regular eye exam is your best defense against potential vision loss from AMD.

If you feel you might be experiencing symptoms of macular degeneration, a  highly qualified LASIK surgeon who can be found in our Trusted LASIK Surgeons™ Directory can help.  Once you find a surgeon closest to you, please contact them directly by calling them or filling out their contract form from their website from the links we provide. 

All LASIK and cataract surgeons featured at Trusted LASIK Surgeons™ are screened to ensure you can find a surgeon who has proven expertise and one with professional accomplishments that have been recognized by their peers. To learn how we screen surgeons, please visit our discussion entitled “How are surgeons screened at Trusted LASIK Surgeons™”?

Most of the LASIK surgeons at featured in our Trusted LASIK Surgeons™ Directory are also expert cataract surgeons and many perform other refractive procedures, like the Kamra Inlay, which can help with reading problems, lens implant procedures, and corneal transplants.  Whatever your vision needs, Trusted LASIK Surgeons™ is here to help you find the best vision correction experts you can find.



 


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