Macular Degeneration

Age Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD or macular degeneration) takes on two basic forms dry and wet. ARMD is the leading cause of blindness in elderly patients around the world. The wet form accounts for 10% of patients with the disease but these patients make up 90% of the patients who suffer severe visual loss. The dry form appears as soft yellowish deposits throughout the central macula (area of cells (cones) that are responsible for daylight vision, colors, letters, etc.) referred to as soft drusen. Patients with large numbers of drusen are at risk of developing wet ARMD. The vision loss associated with wet ARMD is due to neovascular (weak blood vessels) tissues which grow under the retinal tissues causing hemorrhages, scarring and damage to the cells that respond to light (photoreceptors). Treatment is controversial and includes nutritional supplements, laser surgery and injections into the eye (Lucentis, Avastin).