(PreserveMacForte.com) With February being National Macular Degeneration Awareness Month, the emphasis is on creating awareness about the eye condition that can in its later stages lead to blindness.
According to an article on Clintonnc.com, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) does not require treatment in its beginning phases. However, people who are deemed to be high risk of getting AMD might see their ophthalmologist request that they use certain nutritional supplements to reduce their odds of experiencing vision loss. Their ophthalmologist might also suggest that they utilize an Amsler Grid, which is a small card that has a grid printed on it. While this card might not look all that impressive, it can help people to recognize changes stemming from AMD. Changes recognized by the Amsler Grid can be acted upon quickly before AMD has an opportunity to lead to substantial vision impairment.
According to the article, there is currently no way to treat dry AMD, regardless of how severe the condition might be. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to treat wet AMD. Laser treatment is possible if blood vessels beneath the retina are not situated beneath the very center of the macula. Laser treatment seals the blood vessels so that they don’t leak blood or other liquid.
If the blood vessels are indeed growing beneath the center or close to the center of the macula, one option is a cold laser treatment, which is otherwise known as photodynamic therapy. This procedure involves including a laser-activated dye into the bloodstream. As soon as the dye gets to the retina, a cold laser is employed to get the dye to seal the leaking blood vessels. While this procedure can be effective, it might need to be performed multiple times to complete the job. This treatment can potentially reduce vision loss. It does not, however, usually enhance vision.
According to the article, another method of treating AMD is anti-VEGF methods, which basically shrink blood vessels.
People who have late-stage AMD that won’t get better with treatment can check out some low vision aids that might prove helpful. These include things like closed-circuit television and magnifying glasses.
Reference: http://clintonnc.com/view/full_story/21653040/article-Treating-macular-degeneration