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Is There a Cure for Macular Degeneration?

Is There a Cure for Macular Degeneration?

Wet AMD

Wet AMD

Deterioration in central vision caused by age-related macular degeneration, whether it is worse or not as severe as illustrated here, can make performing simple tasks extremely difficult.

Currently, no cure for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) exists. However, several treatment options are available for the most aggressive type of this sight-threatening disease, known as "wet" or "neovascular" AMD. If you have wet AMD, your eye doctor will choose a treatment for you based on your individual case. Your treatment will likely involve laser therapy, steroid eye injections, eye injections of drugs called anti-VEGF agents, or some combination of these options.

While there is no macular degeneration cure, the available treatment options can slow the advance of AMD and help to preserve your eyesight. Some of the newer anti-VEGF agents can also lead to some improvement in vision. In some large studies, treatment with one of these drugs resulted in some vision improvement for 30% to 40% of patients. Scientists are still trying to gain a full understanding of why in degeneration macular reverse of vision loss has not been possible for every patient.

If No Macular Degeneration Cure Exists, What Hope Do I Have?

As explained above, as a person with wet AMD, you do have treatment options that can slow the advance of your condition and help to preserve your eyesight. Getting the best possible results from treatment requires that you commit to being a full partner in your care. It is very important to return for all of the follow-up visits your doctor recommends. The more closely he or she monitors your eyes, the better your chances of saving vision.

It helps if you can have a family member or friend accompany you to your eye doctor appointments to help you absorb all of the information the doctor provides. Be sure to ask whatever questions you have about your condition, too. Rely on your eye doctor to explain what you can and cannot expect from treatment, and be wary of information from other sources that claim to offer a cure for macular degeneration or degeneration macular reverse.

Any kind of vision loss, or even the thought of it, is troubling of course. Facing the loss of sight, especially knowing that a cure for macular degeneration is not available, is not easy. In many people it leads to depression. Furthermore, it can cause you and your family members or friends to feel a range of emotions including guilt, fear and anger. Do whatever you can to stay active and keep a positive attitude.

Join an AMD support group if you can. If you reach the point where declining vision is interfering with your daily life, ask your eye doctor about vision rehabilitation services. Participating in a vision rehabilitation program gives you the opportunity to learn techniques for making the most of whatever level of vision you have. It also can teach you how to use optical and other devices to help you complete your daily tasks and maintain your independence. Degeneration macular reverse may not be possible, but continuing to enjoy life is always an option!

Finally, the companies that make the treatments for wet AMD have a variety of patient support programs that may help you. For example, some offer hotlines that provide information about insurance coverage and denials and connect eligible patients to assistance programs that may help pay for treatment. Others provide tips for living with declining vision and connect you and your loved ones to other valuable resources. Ask your eye doctor how to reach these patient support programs. Of course, none of the resources mentioned in this article are a macular degeneration cure, but they certainly can make living with AMD a whole lot easier to accept.

Hope for the future? New clinical trials.

NeoVista, Inc. is a company that is developing an intraocular epiretinal radiation device intended for the treatment of the wet form of age-related macular degeneration. If you, or someone you know, are interested in participating in the CABERNET Trial, please follow the link below:

Learn more about the CABERNET Trial

 

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