Treatments for Macular Degeneration
Among the treatments for macular deterioration are anti-angiogenic drugs, which are medications injected into the eye that block development of blood vessels and stop leakage from the abnormal vessels forming in the so-called “wet” version of the disease.
Laser therapy, which uses a high-energy light to destroy abnormal blood vessels, has also proved effective. There is also photodynamic laser therapy, in which a light-sensitive drug is injected to be absorbed by the abnormal blood vessels in the eye. A cold laser is used to activate the drug, which damages the abnormal blood vessels and causes them to shrink.
Vitamin therapy has also been used. Massive doses of vitamins E, C, beta-carotene, copper and zinc have been used to reduce the advanced dry form of macular degeneration. Some medical professionals recommend lutein and zeaxanthin in place of beta-carotene for better results.
Other forms of treatment include submacular surgery, which attempts to remove abnormal blood vessels, and retinal translocation, which is a surgical procedure targeting the abnormal blood vessels located under the center of the macula, which is impossible to reach safely with a laser. The macular center is moved to a healthy area of the retina, which enables laser treatment of the abnormal blood vessels.
Good Health Helps
The key to preventing macular degeneration is to focus on overall health. That means incorporating regular eye exams, particularly a dilated eye exam that can catch the disease in the early stages of its progression.