Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Treatment

Fig. Wet Macular Degeneration of the right eye (left image) and Dry Macular Degeneration of the left eye (right image)

Fig. Wet Macular Degeneration of the right eye (left image) and Dry Macular Degeneration of the left eye (right image)

What is age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of severe vision impairment in people aged over 40 years in Australia. AMD affects the macular region of the retina, which is responsible for the sharp, central vision you need for activities like driving, reading and looking at detailed objects.

What are the types of AMD?

There are two types of Age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

The “dry” type accounts for 90% of cases. It is a form of ‘wear and tear’ to the macula and progresses slowly.

The “wet” type occurs in 10-15% of people, where the eye grows blood vessels that can bleed and leak. This leads to scarring of the macula and rapid loss of central vision.

What are the common symptoms of AMD?

With AMD, you may see a blurry area near the centre of your vision. Over time, this blurry area may become bigger and you may see blank or dark spots. Things seem less bright and colours appear faded.

You may also notice that straight lines start to look wavy, which can be a warning sign for wet AMD. A useful screening tool is an Amsler grid. If the lines on the grid do not look straight when looking through each eye, do not hesitate to make an appointment to see Dr Yun.

Am I at risk of developing AMD?

There are a number of factors associated with the development of AMD.

  • Age – Age is the main risk factor. As we age, cell regeneration reduces, increasing the risk of developing this condition. Around 1 in every 200 people will develop AMD at age 60. However, by the age of 90 it affects one person in five.

  • Genetics – A family history of macular degeneration will increase your chances of developing AMD.

  • Smoking – Smoking damages blood vessels and the structure of the eye. Smokers are up to four times more likely to develop AMD than non-smokers.

  • Diet – A poor diet low in fruit and vegetables may increase the risk of AMD. Antioxidants and other substances in fruit and vegetables protect the body against the effects of “free radicals.” These are unstable molecules that damage cells or prevent cell repair.

  • Blood pressure – People with high blood pressure are 1.5 times more likely to have AMD than those with normal blood pressure.

How do you treat age-related macular degeneration?

There is currently no treatment available for dry AMD. However, you can slow down the ‘wear and tear’ process by stopping smoking, eating a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables and wearing sunglasses with good UV light protection. For those already with AMD, a combination of vitamin supplements can slow the disease progression by 43%.

Wet AMD can be treated with a course of injections into the eye. These medications maintain or improve vision in 90% of patients.

During the procedure, the eye is numbed with local anaesthetic drops and the medication is injected into the outer corner of the eye.  The entire process lasts only a few minutes and no special aftercare is required.

Dr Yun performs these injections in his rooms at Illawarra Ophthalmology.