Age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of irreversible vision loss among Americans over 60 years of age, but if can develop even when you are in your early 50s. AMD is an eye disease that damages the macula, the part of the retina that controls central vision. It can cause blurred or distorted vision, and in severe cases, central vision loss making it difficult to read, drive, see faces, or do close-up work.
The symptoms of AMD can include:
- Blurred vision in the center of your field of vision
- Straight lines may appear wavy or crooked
- Colors appear less bright
- Blank spots in your central vision
There are several factors that can increase your risk of AMD:
- Being over 50 years old
- Smoking
- Being overweight
- Family history of AMD
- High blood pressure
- Diet high in saturated fat
- Low levels of antioxidants and zinc
- Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from sunlight
There are two types of AMD—dry AMD and wet AMD. Dry AMD is the more common type, while wet AMD is less common but more serious. With dry AMD the macula thins, and deposits (called drusen) grow. Vision loss is gradual and usually symptoms aren’t apparent until the late stages of the disease. By contrast, wet AMD can cause rapid and severe vision loss. It causes nearly 90% of legal blindness. With Wet AMD blood vessels grow abnormally under the retina and leak fluid or blood.
Up to now, the underlying causes of this disease and effective therapies have remained elusive. “Current treatments for AMD have limited efficacy and often come with significant side effects,” says Ruchira Singh, with the University of Rochester Flaum Eye Institute and Center for Visual Sciences. However, ongoing research and development in ophthalmology is offering new treatments and new hope for aging eyes.
Here are some of the new treatments under development:
- Gene therapy:
Considered a major breakthrough, gene therapy aims to deliver genetic material to the eye that allows it to produce its own therapeutic proteins, potentially eliminating the need for frequent injections to treat conditions like wet AMD.
- Complement inhibitors:
These drugs target a specific pathway in the immune system that contributes to the development of AMD, particularly in the dry form, and could potentially slow disease progression.
- Stem cell therapies:
Research is exploring the potential of using stem cells to replace damaged retinal cells in the eye, offering a possible treatment for advanced stages of macular degeneration.
- Anti-VEGF (anti-vascular endothelial growth factor) injections:
Currently a standard treatment for wet AMD, these injections can help to slow vision loss by targeting a protein that promotes abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina.
- Microinvasive glaucoma surgeries:
Newer surgical techniques for glaucoma are less invasive and can provide effective pressure management with minimal side effects.
While these new and ongoing treatment options show promise, many of these new treatments are still in clinical trials and may not be widely available yet. If you or someone you care about are showing signs of AMD it is crucial that you consult an ophthalmologist. You should regularly visit an eye doctor to review potential treatment options to minimize the effects of AMD on your eyes. Your best treatment option will vary depending on the specifics of your AMD and severity of your vision loss.
