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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffTreatment of wet macular degeneration focuses on stopping progression of the disease.
Medications to stop growth of abnormal blood vessels
Medications may help stop growth of new blood vessels by blocking the effects of growth signals the body sends to generate new blood vessels. These drugs are considered the first-line treatment for all stages of wet macular degeneration.
Medications used to treat wet macular degeneration include:
- Bevacizumab (Avastin)
- Ranibizumab (Lucentis)
- Pegaptanib (Macugen)
These medications are injected directly into your eye. You may undergo repeat injections every four weeks to maintain the beneficial effect of the medication. In some instances, you may partially recover vision as the blood vessels shrink and the fluid under the retina absorbs, allowing retinal cells to regain some function.
Using a laser to destroy abnormal blood vessels (photocoagulation)
During laser therapy, your doctor uses a high-energy laser beam to destroy abnormal, leaky blood vessels under the macula. The procedure is used to prevent further damage to the macula and halt continued vision loss for as long as possible.
Laser therapy is used to treat wet macular degeneration in specific situations. It generally isn't an option if you have abnormal blood vessels directly under the center of the macula. Also, the more damaged your macula is, the lower the likelihood of success. Because of these restrictions, only a small percentage of people who have wet macular degeneration are good candidates for laser therapy.
Using light to activate an injected medication (photodynamic therapy)
Photodynamic therapy is used to treat abnormal blood vessels directly under the fovea. The fovea is a part of your eye that lies at the center of your macula and in healthy eyes provides your sharpest vision. Photodynamic therapy uses a laser that's not as hot as the type used in laser therapy.
The light from the laser used in photodynamic therapy activates a drug called verteporfin (Visudyne), which your doctor injects into a vein in your arm. The drug concentrates in the abnormal blood vessels in your eye. When the light is directed into your eye, the drug becomes activated and damages the abnormal blood vessels.
Photodynamic therapy may halt the loss of your vision or at least slow down the rate of vision loss. After the procedure, you'll need to avoid direct sunlight and intensely bright lights for a few days, until the drug wears off.
- Age-related macular degeneration. American Academy of Ophthalmology. http://one.aao.org/asset.axd?id=29a3f5f4-afa1-41ea-bbc5-0bb01ff1fc9c. Accessed July 27, 2010.
- Rosenfeld PJ, et al. Age-related macular degeneration. In: Yanoff M, et al. Ophthalmology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/199400089-5/0/1869/0.html. Accessed July 27, 2010.
- Facts about age-related macular degeneration. National Eye Institute. http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/maculardegen/armd_facts.asp. Accessed July 27, 2010.
- Arroyo JG. Age-related macular degeneration: Treatment and prevention. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed July 27, 2010.
- Making the most of low vision. EyeSmart. http://www.geteyesmart.org/eyesmart/diseases/amd-low-vision.cfm. Accessed July 27, 2010.
- Schadlu AP, et al. Charles Bonnet syndrome: A review. Current Opinion in Ophthalmology. 2009;20:219.
- Devices to help with low vision. Macular Degeneration Partnership. http://www.amd.org/living-with-amd/low-vision/80-devices-to-help-low-vision.html. Accessed Aug. 10, 2010.
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