Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is a common condition that affects the middle part of your vision.
It doesn't cause total blindness, but it can make everyday activities like reading and recognising faces difficult.
Without treatment, your vision may get worse. This can happen gradually over several years – Dry ARMD, or quickly over a few weeks or months, Wet ARMD.
The exact cause is unknown. It's been linked to smoking, high blood pressure, being overweight and having a family history of AMD.
It usually first affects people in their 50s and 60s.
ARMD is usually diagnosed through a combination of clinical examination and a special type of scan called an OCT scan. This scan is painless and does not require any x-rays or injections.
The treatment of ARMD was revolutionised a few years ago with new drugs which are injected directly into the eye. Several injections may be required in order to achieve long term stabilisation of vision. This type of treatment is very well tolerated by most patients.
Intravitreal injections of Eylea or Lucentis. This form of treatment ensures that the drug is delivered directly to the area requiring treatment while minimising the risk of side effects in other parts of the body. Eylea and Lucentis inhibit a hormone in the eye causing abnormal blood vessel production and are used as a treatment for several conditions affecting the retina including macular degeneration. Usually the initial treatment requires a minimum of three injections spaced out over three months.
Rarely ARMD is amenable to treatment with laser. This treatment is delivered as outpatient with minimal discomfort. The laser beam destroys the abnormal blood vessels which lead to wet ARMD.
