Macular degeneration is the
leading cause of vision loss in people over sixty years of age. There are two
basic types under this: The wet macular degeneration and the dry macular
degeneration. The wet type of macular degeneration is more of an advanced type,
and it accounts for ninety percent of the sever vision loss.
When someone is suffering from
wet type of macular degeneration, then there are abnormal blood vessels growing
beneath their retina and macula. These abnormal blood vessels leak various
fluids and also bleed at times, which causes lump in the macula. This lump
destroys the central vision of the person completely. Fortunately, there are
cures found for the early stages of wet type of macular degeneration. And the top three are: Injections, Photodynamic
Therapy, and Photocoagulation Therapy.
Ø Injections
Lucentis – It is considered to
possess the gold standards among the assembled anti-angiogenic drugs. It acts
completely against the abnormal blood vessels of the exudative macular
degeneration. Almost ninety-five percent of the patients have retained their
proper vision when being treated with this injection.
Macugen – Lucentis is more
effective in retaining and restoring vision, macugen is not being used very
often. However, it may play a part in your treatment regimen. It is considered
to be seventy percent effective in restoring the vision.
Avastin – This injection was
available way before the lucentis. Even smaller quantities of it in the eye
shows drastic results, and it is also significantly cheaper than other
injections. Use of Avastin for wet macular degeneration has become very popular.
But there are some doctors that use it exclusive basis and then there are
others too that switch from lucentis to avastin.
Eylea – when injected on monthly
basis, eylea showed the compatible qualities of lucentis. Although it has a lot
of curing qualities, it still has a lot of side effects that causes a lot of discomfort
and redness in the eyes, making it not so popular choice. Also an increase in
an intraocular pressure was been seen, so the doctors or the retinal
specialists are warned to monitor the patients regarding this issue. These side
effects are seen in lucentis and avastin too, but they are only for temporarily
period.
Ø Photodynamic
Therapy
Photodynamic therapy is a cold
laser treatment that is widely being used to treat patients with wet type of
macular degeneration. It is vexed in combination with lucentis or other
anti-angiogenic drugs, as that may increase the effectiveness.
Ø Photocoagulation
Therapy
Photocoagulation Therapy is a hot
laser treatment and is completely opposite to photodynamic therapy. Although
there has been a rise in new therapies, photocoagulation therapy still stands
out, and is considered to be the best among them. As for years,
photocoagulation was the only treatment available for the wet
macular denegation.
