For both Wet and Dry AMD, some medications and lifestyle changes may help prevent the condition from worsening or even occurring in the first place.

Vitamin supplements

Over the last decade, studies (particularly the AREDS and AREDS 2 trials) have found that certain combinations of vitamins could reduce the chances of macular degeneration worsening by around a third. However, not everyone agrees that it helps that much, and it may not help everyone.

Eye Institute recommends taking the following medication:

• Macu-Vision twice a day, together with either Lutein Vision Advanced twice a day or Lutein Vision Defence once a day. These are available from most pharmacies and do not require a prescription. It may be better to take the Lutein Vision Advanced rather than the Lutein Defence because it also contains omega-three fatty acids. However, whether these help in macular degeneration is disputed.

Stopping smoking

Smokers are more at risk of macular degeneration, particularly Wet AMD, so it’s important to stop smoking, especially if you have been diagnosed with AMD.

Dietary changes

Eating more nuts and fish oils may help prevent AMD.

Wet AMD treatments

If you’re diagnosed with Wet AMD, you should seek treatment quickly to reduce permanent damage to your sight. The macular degeneration experts at Eye Institute use the most advanced medications and treatments for Wet AMD, including:

Wet AMD medication

Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors or Anti-VEGF’s such as Avastin and Eylea are medications which help to prevent vision loss and in some circumstances restore some vision in people with Wet AMD. They are injected into the eye (which is less painful than it sounds) and may need to be repeated over several months.

Thermal laser treatment for Wet AMD

Due to the success of anti-VEGF medications, we are less likely to use the thermal laser to treat Wet AMD. Still, we may use it to seal off the abnormal leaky blood vessels in some forms of Wet AMD.

Non-thermal laser treatment for Wet AMD

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) uses a light-activated drug and non-thermal laser to destroy abnormal blood vessels while preserving normal healthy tissue selectively. Still, it usually doesn’t work as well as injections.

The macular degeneration specialists at Eye Institute have treated many cases of both Dry AMD and Wet AMD.