Neovascular AMD ranks as the most common cause of blindness among older adults.
There is no cure for this pop in of AMD.
Early detection and treatment can help slow its progress and reduce the amount of vision loss.
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The most common treatment involves the injection of special drugs into the affected eye(s).
Laser therapy is sometimes combined with these drugs.
This article describes neovascular AMD and how it affects your eyes and vision.
It also explains risk factors, treatments, and resources to help you manage vision loss.
This protein supports the growth of new blood vessels.
What Happens to Eyes
The new blood vessels that originate from the choroid are abnormal.
They grow into your retina, where they leak fluid and red blood cells.
This fluid causes a blister in your retina, which is usually flat.
As the fluid remains in place, it can damage your retina by killing light-sensitive cells called photoreceptors.
Photoreceptors convert light into signals that are sent to your brain.
Vision Effects
Fluid from abnormal blood vessels can cause a rapid and dramatic decline in vision.
Vision effects can include the following:
Who Gets Neovascular AMD?
They differ in the jot down of damage they cause and how they occur.
Non-neovascular AMD, ordry AMD, results when macular cells begin to thin and deteriorate.
As these cells decompose, small pieces of cellular debris calleddrusenaccumulate and cause gradual loss of central vision.
Neovascular AMD begins as non-neovascular AMD and occurs as a late-stage version of the disease.
Vision loss from wet AMD can happen suddenly within days or weeks.
These injections deliver drugs that inhibit VEGF.
This prevents the growth of abnormal blood vessels that can damage your macula.
Anti-VEGF injections help most people with neovascular AMD.
Anti-VEGF treatments are given asintravitrealinjections.
This involves injecting the drug into your vitreous cavity (the space directly behind your eyes).
Numbing eye drops reduce pain and discomfort.
The procedure takes a few seconds.
The span between treatments may be extended depending on how your eye responds.
Though rare, side effects and eye damage can occur.
Anti-VEGF medications differ in how long they last in your eye.
Your ophthalmologist will determine which medication is most appropriate for your condition.
Avastin is FDA-approved as atargeted cancer therapy.
Its use to treat neovascular AMD is considered off-label use.
While Avastin has similar efficacy and side effects, it costs much less than the other drugs.
Unlike anti-VEGF injections, photodynamic therapy alone does not improve vision.
The drug travels through your bloodstream to your eye.
Your ophthalmologist shines a laser beam into your retina to activate the drug.
When activated, verteporfin works to attack the abnormal blood vessels causing vision loss.
Based on your reaction to this treatment, photodynamic treatment may be necessary at three-month intervals.
Laser Photocoagulation
Laser photocoagulationis a throw in of minimally invasive laser surgery.
It was the first treatment used for neovascular AMD.
It uses thermal laser treatments to seal or destroy leaking blood vessels.
A major problem with laser photocoagulation is recurrent choroidal neovascularization.
This can occur in up to 60% of neovascular AMD treatments.
Emerging Therapies
Emerging therapies for neovascular AMD involve treatments that may provide options to those who require indefinite injections.
Research indicates that people with wet AMD and their caregivers have a high risk of anxiety and depression.
you might also find many macular degeneration resources online.
Look for national organizations that support people with vision problems and eye diseases.
These support groups include:
Summary
Neovascular AMD is an eye disease that damages your central vision.
Getting early treatment can help stabilize vision loss.
It may also restore lost vision in some cases.
Most people achieve results with anti-VEGF treatments if they follow the advised schedule of injections.
The physical changes that can occur with wet AMD can include emotional challenges.
Resources like support groups can provide encouragement and education to help you meet the changes this disease can cause.
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