macular degeneration
Wet AMD
Wet AMD (also referred to as exudative AMD) is caused by the development of tiny abnormal blood vessels, which grow underneath the retina and take the form of a "membrane". This membrane of abnormal blood vessels tends to cause leakage of fluid into and under the retina. In addition it is quite common for some of the abnormal blood vessels to burst open and lead to bleeding underneath the retina. If this leakage and bleeding continue unabated the eventual result is the development of a scar with consequent extreme damage to the macula and therefore often a very severe loss of central vision. In fact although dry AMD is much more common than wet AMD, nearly 90% of people who are registered blind or partially sighted with AMD have suffered from the wet form of the condition. Symptoms of wet AMD in the early stages can be distortion of vision, dark or grey patches of missing vision and general fogginess. These symptoms are often much more noticeable when trying to see things up close, for example reading a book, knitting or sewing. Often the vision for distance can be much less involved, especially in the early stages of the condition.
In order to assess the extent and severity of the developing blood vessels, we normally recommend a test known as a fluorescein angiogram. This test involves the injection of a small volume of fluorescein dye into a vein (most likely on the arm) following which a series of photographs are taken of the macula over a period of up-to 15 minutes. The resulting photographs will allow us to discover the extent and pattern of abnormal blood vessel formation in the macula.
This information in turn will allow us to provide you with further guidance on the severity of the AMD, its rate of progression and hopefully also guide treatment programmes. Different types of leakage may be identified by angiography. Correct identification of the type of lesion is an important first step in selecting the most effective treatment or combination of treatments. The major treatment options for wet AMD are:
- Laser
- Photodynamic Therapy
- Anti VEGF therapy with Lucentis
- Anti VEGF therapy with Avastin
Results
