How is AMD treated? that cause the growth of abnormal blood vessels under the retina. Nutritional Supplements Examples of the drug are Lucentis, Certain vitamins such as vitamin C and Avastin, and Eyelea; each work E, beta carotene, copper and zinc may equally well although there may help reduce the impact that AMD can be a difference in cost. A Closer Look at cause in some people. These vitamins ERM (Epiretinal along with lutein, zeaxanthin, and Age-Related Macular omega-3 will only help treat dry macular DegenerationMembrane) (AMD) degeneration. These supplements are part of the AREDS 2 formula. Relatives Compliments of of patients with AMD should check with Vatsal Doshi, MD, MPH and their doctor first before starting these Jonathan Huz, MD of vitamins themselves. Vitreous Retina Macula Specialists Remember that vitamins alone are not of New Jersey a cure for AMD. Talk to your doctor to see if taking these vitamins are right for (Above is a before and after OCT image of a patient you, and if you are at risk in developing with wet AMD treated with anti-VEGF injection advanced AMD. showing improvement of the retinal swelling after treatment) Anti-VEGF Treatments A common treatment for wet AMD is an injection in the eye with a drug that Laser Surgery causes blood vessels to stop growing Another treatment for wet macular and bleeding. degeneration is the use of a laser which focuses a beam of light on The drug is a VEGF blocker which targets specific chemicals in your body the retina to stop blood vessels from leaking and damaging the back of the macula. This form of treatment is not as common, as it has been replaced Millburn with injections in the eye. 306 Main Street, 2nd Floor Millburn, NJ 07041 P (973) 467-2020 F (973) 467-2030 Somerset 1543 Route 27, Suite 12 Somerset, NJ 08873 P (732) 839-0516 F (732) 253-5259 Patient Education W vrmnjretina.com E [email protected] products accumulate under the retina The most advanced Below is an Amsler grid with wavy What is macular degeneration? leading to the formation of deposits stage of dry AMD is lines depicting what a person might called drusen. In some cases, with the geographic atrophy. see with AMD. Age-Related Macular degeneration later stages, there is growth of abnormal The retinal pigment (AMD) is a deterioration or break- down of the macula area. The blood vessels under layer below the the retina. retina atrophies, macula is a small area in the retina that allows you to see fine When macular de- resulting in a loss details clearly. If the macula is not generation does lead of photoreceptors functioning correctly, your central to loss of vision, it causing vision loss. vision can experience blurriness, usually begins in just Wet AMD distortion, or shadows. AMD affects one eye, though it The “wet” form of the ability to see near and far, and may later affect the AMD accounts for makes some activities difficult or other eye. Many people are not aware about 10 percent impossible. that they have macular degeneration of all macular Testing your vision until they have a noticeable vision Check your vision daily by using the Usually AMD reduces vision in the degeneration cases, problem or until it is detected during Amsler grid which will allow you to central part of the retina, and does and a high percent- an eye examination. find changes in your vision that are not affect the peripheral vision. age of those cases develop significant otherwise difficult to notice. AMD alone does not cause total Symptoms of AMD blindness. In many cases, macular vision loss. Wet AMD results when Macular degeneration can cause different degeneration’s impact on your abnormal blood vessels form under- symptoms in different people. The vision can be minimal. neath the retina. These new blood following are some common ways it can vessels leak fluid or blood and blur be detected: Text on a page looks blurred; central vision. Vision loss may be a dark or empty area appears in the cen- rapid and severe. ter of vision; straight lines look distorted. The two most common types of How is AMD diagnosed? AMD are “dry” (atrophic) and “wet” It is difficult to realize that you have a (exudative): macular problem until vision becomes Dry AMD blurred. Your eye doctor, during an Schedule and Eye Examination examination, can detect early signs Most people have the “dry” form of AMD. Test your vision every day, place of macular degeneration. This eye It is caused by aging and thinning of the Amsler grid on the front of your exam may include: a vision test the tissues of the macula. Vision loss refrigerator or on your bathroom where you look at a graph paper is usually gradual. This form of mirror. This will help you remember called Amsler grid; an examination degeneration usually causes people to to look at it each day. Remember of the macula using a special lens; What causes AMD? have difficulty seeing in changes of light. that vision loss is preventable when specific photographs taken of the detected early. Many elderly people develop AMD retina with fluorescein angiography as part of the body’s natural aging or optical coherence tomography. process. Exactly why it develops is unknown. In the early stages, waste