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What are my treatment options . . . |
page 6 |
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If I have Dry Macular Degeneration or Wet Macular Degeneration. |
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are no treatments for Dry Macular Degeneration.
However, a ten-year National Eye Institute - sponsored study,
AREDS (Age Related Eye Disease Study), has shown that
antioxidant vitamins and zinc may reduce the impact of Macular
Degeneration. AREDS found that people with advanced
stages of Macular Degeneration lowered their risk of vision
loss by 25% when treated with a high-dose combination of
vitamins A, C and E, beta-carotene, and zinc. For those
who have very little or no Macular Degeneration, the special
supplements did not appear to have any benefit.
Remember that these vitamins are not a cure. They will not restore vision and may even be harmful. For instance, large doses of antioxidants may have a negative effect on some people with some medical conditions. These vitamins and minerals should be prescribed by an eye care professional in specific daily amounts and taken as supplements to a balanced diet. Be sure to meet with your eye care professional to learn if you're at risk, and whether supplement would help. Wet Macular Degeneration needs to be treated as soon as it is discovered. Waiting will only lead to further vision loss. There are two treatments available for patients with certain forms of Wet Macular Degeneration. Laser photocoagulation One treatment
is laser photocoagulation. While this process cannot restore
lost vision, it seals the abnormal blood vessels. This
prevents further vision In laser photocoagulation, a laser is used to destroy the abnormal blood vessels under the retina. Since the heat of the laser also destroys overlying healthy retinal tissue, a permanent blind spot will result anywhere the laser is applied. Thus, laser photocoagulation is useful if the abnormal blood vessels are not in the center of vision. If they are in the center however, laser to this area, will lead to permanent loss of vision. Fortunately, there is a way to treat abnormal blood vessels in the center. It's called Visudyne® Therapy. Continued on next page . . . |
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deterioration in certain types of Wet
Macular Degeneration.