Discover how macular degeneration treatment can protect your quality of vision
Your suitability for macular degeneration treatment depends on the type of AMD and individual characteristics of the condition. We can establish this at your initial appointment.
Your eye specialist will tailor a management plan specific to your eyes.
Advantages
- Slows progression of macular degeneration.
- It may cause vision to improve slightly.
Disadvantages
- Treatment does not cure macular degeneration.
- This treatment is often needed long-term
Risks include:
- Infection
- Increased eye pressure
- Inflammation
- Haemorrhage
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.
Your eye specialist will determine which treatment type(s) are most appropriate for you based on the type of macular degeneration you have and its severity.
Results include a reduced progression of macular degeneration or halting of the progression altogether.
In some cases, patients experience an improvement in vision.
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Dr Mantell is a specialist in refractive and cataract surgery. He has restored the vision of thousands of people in his 17-year career.
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Dr Ring is an expert in cornea, cataract and refractive surgery.
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Dr Subbiah is a cataract, corneal and laser surgery specialist.
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Dr Watson specialises in treating many aspects of the eye, including the face, eyelids, tear drainage system and the cornea.
Professor Danesh-Meyer is an international authority on glaucoma and neuro-ophthalmology and one of the most highly regarded experts in her field.
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Professor Charles McGhee, a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon for 25 years, specialises in corneal diseases and cataract surgery.
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Dr Cunningham is a consultant ophthalmologist who specialises in cataract surgery and vitreoretinal surgery.
Dr Hill completed her MBBS at St Georges University of London in 2008, also obtaining an Intercalated BSc from King’s College University, London.
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Dr Hadden specialises in vitreoretinal and cataract surgery, including the treatment of intraocular tumours.
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Dr Narme Deva is a key opinion leader for Medical retina and Uveitis in New Zealand.
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Dr Elizabeth Insull is a New Zealand and UK trained Oculoplastic and Ophthalmic surgeon.
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Dr Matheos is an ophthalmologist with subspecialist training in glaucoma and anterior segment surgery, cataract surgery and pterygium surgery.
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Dr Beaumont is a general ophthalmologist. He specialises in surgical ophthalmology, medical ophthalmology and urgent eye trauma care.
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Dr Meyer is a specialist eye surgeon specialising in cataracts, glaucoma, and corneal diseases and surgeries.
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Dr Reeves has advanced training in the diagnosis and management of glaucoma. He offers a variety of laser and surgical treatments, including minimally invasive glaucoma surgery.
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Dr Perumal is a New Zealand trained ophthalmologist with advanced training in glaucoma and cataract surgery.
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Dr Narme Deva is a key opinion leader for Medical retina and Uveitis in New Zealand.
LEARN MORE
Dr Ring is an expert in cornea, cataract and refractive surgery.
LEARN MORE
Dr Subbiah is a cataract, corneal and laser surgery specialist.
LEARN MORE
Dr Watson specialises in treating many aspects of the eye, including the face, eyelids, tear drainage system and the cornea.
LEARN MORE
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Professor Danesh-Meyer is an international authority on glaucoma and neuro-ophthalmology and one of the most highly regarded experts in her field.
LEARN MORE
Professor Charles McGhee, a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon for 25 years, specialises in corneal diseases and cataract surgery.
LEARN MORE
Dr Cunningham is a consultant ophthalmologist who specialises in cataract surgery and vitreoretinal surgery.
LEARN MORE
Dr Hadden specialises in vitreoretinal and cataract surgery, including the treatment of intraocular tumours.
LEARN MORE
Dr Elizabeth Insull is a New Zealand and UK trained Oculoplastic and Ophthalmic surgeon.
LEARN MORE
Dr Matheos is an ophthalmologist with subspecialist training in glaucoma and anterior segment surgery, cataract surgery and pterygium surgery.
LEARN MORE
Dr Beaumont is a general ophthalmologist. He specialises in surgical ophthalmology, medical ophthalmology and urgent eye trauma care
LEARN MORE
Dr. Meyer is a specialist eye surgeon specialising in cataracts, glaucoma, and corneal diseases and surgeries.
LEARN MORE
Dr Reeves has advanced training in the diagnosis and management of glaucoma. He offers a variety of laser and surgical treatments, including minimally invasive glaucoma surgery.
LEARN MORE
Dr Perumal is a New Zealand trained ophthalmologist with advanced training in glaucoma and cataract surgery.
LEARN MORE
Dr Mantell is a specialist in refractive and cataract surgery. He has restored the vision of thousands of people in his 17-year career.
LEARN MORE
Dr Hill completed her MBBS at St Georges University of London in 2008, also obtaining an Intercalated BSc from King’s College University, London.
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Learn more about treating vision loss from authoritative sources.
There’s no cure, but treatment for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) may slow the disease and keep you from having a severe loss of vision.
Treatment options:
- Anti-angiogenic drugs
- Laser therapy
- Vitamins
- Low vision aids
While no macular degeneration treatment is currently approved for use, the United States is likely to completely restore vision loss to eye diseases. Some drugs — such as Lucentis — may be able to slow or prevent additional vision loss or even improve remaining vision to some extent.
Also, certain investigational treatments have shown promise for reversing at least some vision loss in people affected by age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Click here to read more.
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