Macular degeneration - Essos Yaoundé

Management and Treatment How is macular degeneration managed or treated? There’s no cure for macular degeneration. Starting treatments early can slow the progression of the disease and make symptoms less severe. Even with successful treatments, symptoms often return. Depending on the disease type, treatments include nutritional supplements, medications, photodynamic therapy (PDT) and laser therapy. Nutritional supplements to treat dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) The Age-Related Eye Disease Studies (AREDS and AREDS2) found that a combination of vitamins and minerals might slow the progression of dry AMD. AREDS supplements include these ingredients: Vitamin C. Vitamin E. Lutein. Zinc. Copper. Zeaxanthin. The first version of the supplements contained the antioxidant beta-carotene, but it raises the risk of lung cancer in people who smoke and people who used to smoke. In the newer version, zeaxanthin and lutein are the antioxidants. Medications to treat wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) There are that treat but don’t cure wet AMD. They include anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections. They block the production of VEGF, which is a protein that produces new blood vessels. Your provider, generally a retina specialist, will numb your eye before giving you a shot into the vitreous (intravitreal injections). Anti-VEGF shots can sometimes improve your vision. These include: Aflibercept (Eylea). Ranibizumab (Lucentis). Bevacizumab (Avastin). Faricimab-svoa (VABYSMO). Brolucizumab (Beovu). Photodynamic therapy to treat wet age-related macular degeneration During photodynamic therapy (PDT), your eye care specialist uses a combination of an injectable light-sensitive drug and a laser to destroy extra blood vessels in your eye. Your provider may combine PDT with anti-VEGF shots. Laser photocoagulation to treat wet age-related macular degeneration During this treatment, your provider will use a laser to seal and destroy the leaking blood vessels. This was actually the first treatment for wet AMD. Providers don’t use laser photocoagulation and PDT as often as they once did due to the development of anti-VEGF injections. What are the side effects or risks of macular degeneration treatments? Treatments for wet AMD carry some risk of complications, including: Eye infection. Retinal detachment. Structural eye damage. Faster onset of cataracts. Severe vision loss. What are the complications of macular degeneration? Losing your central vision can make it challenging to do certain tasks. Depending on the extent of vision impairment, you may not be able to: Read well. Recognize faces. Drive. Cook. Do home repairs. Severe AMD may lead to you being legally blind. Changes in your lifestyle can lead to depression and anxiety. Some people with AMD experience Charles Bonnet syndrome, a condition that causes visual hallucinations. Medical care in India, Tunisia, Türkiye, France, Morocco, etc.