Macular degeneration (AMD), is a chronic painless eye disease that causes central vision loss and is more common as you get older. It is caused by damage to the cells in the central region (macula) of the back of your eye (the retina).
AMD causes blurred vision and loss of vision in the middle of what you would normally see. You may find it hard to drive, to read and to see people’s faces.
There are two main types of macular degeneration:
DRY – develops slowly and causes gradual vision loss. It is caused by the gradual loss of cells in your retina. It is the most common kind.
WET – leads to rapid loss of central vision. It happens when abnormal blood vessels grow into your macula and leak blood and fluid.
Macular degeneration treatment
Intravitreal injections are used to administer medications to treat age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Anti-VEGF agents are injected into the eye to improve neovascularization and macular oedema and slow disease progression. In treating wet AMD, anti-VEGF injections can slow the process of abnormal blood vessels expanding underneath the macula and may help prevent some vision loss. Intravitreal injections are a treatment option for wet AMD. These painless injections are administered directly into the eye, into the clear, gelatinous area called the vitreous. The injections have a medication called anti-VEGF. Intravitreal injections are now far and away the most common procedure undertaken in ophthalmology, being performed more than 600,000 times per year across Australia.
Should you have any concerns about your eye health, please do not hesitate to make an appointment with us - www.horsburgheyes.com.au/contact
