Macular degeneration, either wet or dry, can cause visual and lifestyle challenges for those who suffer with it. With the loss of or compromised central and detailed vision many ‘normal’ activities can become obsolete. The treatment for macular degeneration is newly emerging and depends on your specific case.

The treatment for wet macular degeneration is quite different than the treatment for macular degeneration that is dry. There are more options for treatment of wet macular degeneration. This is the more serious of the two forms of macular degeneration because it usually progresses much more rapidly than dry macular degeneration and involves blood vessels.

While there is no cure for macular degeneration of either type there are ways to prevent dry macular degeneration from advancing to the most advanced stage. And depending on your specific case there are options of treatment for wet macular degeneration.

Treatments for Wet Macular Degeneration

Wet macular degeneration treatments focus on repairing the blood vessels that are leaking fluid into the eye. According to the National Eye Institute there are three main ways to treat wet macular degeneration.

3 Treatments for Macular Degeneration

1. Laser surgery

Laser surgery as a treatment for macular degeneration involves destroying the damaged or weak blood vessels. This is only appropriate for certain patients and the risk of other blood vessels forming and the need for repeated treatments is high. 

1. Photodynamic therapy

This type of therapy involves the use of the drug called verteporfin. The drug is injected into the arm and travels to the affected blood vessels. A light is then shined onto the vessels which activates the verteporfin. This drug clings to the blood vessels and destroys them.

This type of macular degeneration treatment helps to slow the loss of vision but doesn’t prevent it. Additional treatments may be needed.

1. Injections

A new type of treatment involves injection of a drug that blocks a type of growth factor that has been implicated in causing the blood vessels associated with wet macular degeneration. The injections may be needed regularly and go directly into the eye. This procedure promises not only to slow vision loss but potentially improve sight, according to the National Eye Institute.

If you have that you have wet or dry macular degeneration there are treatments for macular degeneration that can help improve your quality of life. However if you have dry macular degeneration that has reached the advanced stage there is little that can be done (at this time) to prevent vision loss.

Treatment Options for Dry Macular Degeneration

With dry macular degeneration there is no bleeding or leaking of fluids into the eye. This type of vision loss is a result of the deterioration of the macula.

There are no surgical or drug therapies available to help with dry macular degeneration at this time however there are antioxidant and vitamin therapies that have been recently promoted by the National Eye Institute following a study of dry macular degeneration patients.

If you do have dry macular degeneration it’s important to take measures that help you to cope with your vision loss and continue to enjoy life.

Be sure to utilize all the resources available to you including friends and family, using the proper eyeglasses, increasing light as needed for reading and other detailed activities, use large print books or magnifying glasses to help you see, and seek help from others for driving and traveling.

If you suspect you may have dry or wet macular degeneration it’s vital to seek professional help immediately to slow its progression and preserve your vision.

Although there is currently no cure for macular degeneration a recent study sponsored by the National Eye Institute is gaining attention for macular degeneration treatment. According to the Age Related Eye Disease Study, or AREDS, there are macular degeneration vitamins you can take to slow your vision loss associated with age related vision loss problems, this includes dry macular degeneration.

The study found that taking a certain combination of vitamin and minerals slowed the progression of vision loss from macular degeneration as well as aids in halting its progression to the advanced stage of the disease.

The combination includes the following components:

5 Macular Degeneration Vitamins and Minerals

• 500 mg vitamin C
• 400 IU vitamin E
• 15 mg beta carotene
• 80 mg zinc
• 2 mg copper

This powerful combination of vitamins and minerals is loaded with antioxidants. Taken on a regular, consistent basis this macular degeneration vitamin combo has been shown to slow vision loss and progression of the disease into the later stages.

And according to experts at the National Eye Institute this potent vitamin formula has been found to be effective only for those with macular degeneration (wet or dry) in the intermediate (dry) or advanced (wet or dry) stages.

Macular Degeneration Diet

The AREDS recommended supplement plan for macular degeneration sufferers in the advanced stages of the disease is hard to obtain by diet alone. With it’s high levels of certain vitamins and minerals it would be a challenge to eat that amount of each nutrient in your daily diet.

However, there are certain foods you can eat that have been proven to be beneficial for the eyes.

A diet rich in green, leafy vegetables that are high in vitamins A, C, and E have been associated with a lower risk of developing macular degeneration. There is currently no evidence to suggest that this type of diet can reverse or slow the progression of macular degeneration.

It’s important to note that a new study being sponsored by the National Eye Institute is focusing on the potential benefits of a diet high in lutein, zeaxantin, and omega-3 fatty acids to lower the risk of developing macular degeneration.

How to Decrease Your Risk of Developing Macular Degeneration

Eating a healthy diet isn’t just important for protecting your eye health and preventing macular degeneration, it’s vital for a healthy body. The benefits to eating a whole foods, fresh foods diet that avoids processed and refined foods are immeasurable.

In addition to paying attention to what you eat there are lifestyle choices you can make to lower your chance of developing macular degeneration as well as many other debilitating diseases.

Avoid smoking, excessive stress, obesity, and other unhealthy lifestyle habits. Make it a point to be regularly checked out by your doctors including the eye doctor and dentist.

Living an all around healthy life will help you to decrease your risk of developing macular degeneration.

Alternative Treatments for Macular Degeneration

There are a number of people who have turned to alternative, herbal therapies for treatment of macular degeneration. Although there is no evidence that any of these work the following are used most often to treat macular degeneration with some users claiming success:

• Bilberry
• Ginkgo
• Shark cartilage

These may interfere with other medicines you may be taking so it’s vital to check with your health care practitioner before beginning any alternative treatment program.

There are advances on a daily basis with many diseases. If you suffer with macular degeneration stay up on current studies and research, eat healthy, and take the steps necessary to maintain the highest quality of life.

Reference:

http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/maculardegen/armd_facts.asp