Wet Macular Degeneration

Wet macular degeneration is a long-lasting eye disorder that causes blurred vision or a blind spot in the central vision. It’s usually caused by blood vessels that leak fluid or blood into the macula. The macula is the part of the retina that gives the eye clear vision in the direct line of sight. Wet macular degeneration is one of two types of age-related macular degeneration. The other type, dry macular degeneration, is more common and less severe. The wet type always begins as the dry type. Early detection and treatment of wet macular degeneration may help reduce vision loss and in some instances, early treatment may recover vision. To learn more about this topic, check out: Mayo Clinic.

Symptoms

Wet macular degeneration symptoms usually appear suddenly and worsen quickly. They may include visual distortions, such as straight lines seeming bent, reduced central vision in one or both eyes, the need for brighter light when reading or doing close-up work, difficulty adjusting to low light levels, such as when entering a dimly lit restaurant or theater, increased blurriness of printed words, difficulty recognizing faces, and a well-defined blurry spot or blind spot in the field of vision. Macular degeneration doesn’t affect side vision, so it doesn’t cause total blindness. To learn more about this topic, check out: Mayo Clinic.

Causes

No one knows the exact cause of wet macular degeneration, but it develops in people who have dry macular degeneration. Of all people with age-related macular degeneration, about 20% have the wet form. Wet macular degeneration can develop in different ways: Vision loss caused by irregular blood vessel growth. Sometimes irregular new blood vessels grow from the choroid under and into the macula. These blood vessels may leak fluid or blood, affecting the retina’s function. Vision loss caused by fluid buildup in the back of the eye. When fluid leaks from the choroid, it can collect between the thin cell layer called the retinal pigment epithelium and the retina or within the layers of the retina. This may cause irregularities in the macula layers, resulting in vision loss or distortion. To learn more about this topic, check out: Mayo Clinic.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Wet macular degeneration is a chronic eye disorder that leads to blurred vision or a blind spot in your visual field. It’s generally caused by abnormal blood vessels that leak fluid or blood into the region of the macula. Wet macular degeneration is one of two types of age-related macular degeneration. The other type — dry macular degeneration — is more common and less severe. To learn more about this topic, check out: Mayo Clinic.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis for Macular degeneration involves a number of eye examinations. These may include checking the back of the eye after using medications to dilate the eye, Amsler grid test, Indocyanine green angiography, Optic coherence tomography, and Fluorescein angiogram. To learn more about this topic, check out: MSN.

Treatment

There is no permanent cure for macular degeneration. Treatments aim at slowing down the progression of disease and preventing vision loss. Medication for Macular degeneration includes Ranibizumab, Aflibercept, Bevacizumab (Anti angiogenesis drugs: Prevent the formation of new blood vessels and leakage from the abnormal vessels.) and Vitamin A (Vitamin supplements: To reduce the risk of vision loss.) Therapy for Macular degeneration includes Laser therapy, Photodynamic therapy, and Low vision rehabilitation. To learn more about this topic, check out: MSN.

Differences Between Wet and Dry AMD

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common visual impairment, especially among adults over 65. It doesn’t cause total blindness, but it can severely impair central vision, which allows us to see shapes, colors, and details. Without central vision, it’s hard to recognize faces, read, or drive. AMD is classified as either wet or dry.

Wet AMD

Wet AMD happens when irregular blood vessels begin to grow under your eye’s macula. These blood vessels leak fluid into the retina and reduce vision. Over time, scarring within the retina may occur. Usually, vision loss comes on faster in wet AMD compared to dry AMD. Wet AMD can lead to more rapid and severe vision loss but is more treatable than dry AMD. To learn more about this topic, check out: Healthline.

Dry AMD

Dry AMD is much more common and usually progresses slowly. Dry AMD happens gradually. It’s caused by changes that occur underneath the retina in an important region called the macula. Your macula is in the center of your retina and helps you see clearly. During dry AMD, clusters made up of lipids (fats) and proteins build up under your macula. These are called drusen. This thinning or wearing down of the macula can happen to some people as they age. To learn more about this topic, check out: Healthline.

Research and Advances

Research and advances in the field of Wet Macular Degeneration (AMD) have been significant, with new treatments emerging that may help preserve eyesight for longer, without the need for frequent injections. Some of these treatments include retinal gene therapy and the “port” delivery system. To learn more about this topic, check out: Verywell Health.

Emerging Treatments for Wet AMD

New treatments for wet AMD may help preserve your eyesight without the need for frequent injections into the back of the eye. Just 20 years ago, if a person developed wet AMD, vision loss was imminent. But in 2004, a groundbreaking new treatment called anti-VEGF—including drugs such as Lucentis, Eylea, and Avastin—became available. These drugs work to stop the blood vessels from growing, subsequently controlling the leakage and slowing down the damage to the macula. Anti-VEGF is highly effective in preserving the central vision of people with wet AMD. The primary drawback to anti-VEGF injections is that they must be given into the back of the eye every four to six weeks. Today, there’s hope for new types of anti-VEGF treatments that will not need to be administered as often as the current, four- to six-week regimen. Some experts say that a few treatments being developed today may possibly even cure the disease. To learn more about this topic, check out: Verywell Health.

Retinal Gene Therapy

One promising new treatment for wet AMD involves retinal gene therapy as an alternative to monthly eye injections. The goal of gene therapy is to employ the body to make its own anti-VEGF by inserting a harmless virus (called an adeno-associated virus/AAV) carrying the anti-VEGF gene into a person’s DNA. More specifically, RGX-314 gene therapy only requires one injection, but it must be performed via a surgical procedure. This treatment is currently moving through clinical research trials. Studies on RGX-314 Now that retinal gene therapy has been approved by the FDA for other retinal eye conditions (other than AMD), this type of treatment looks very promising for people with AMD. RGX-314 could potentially work to block VEGF for years after it is administered. This, in turn, would help to inhibit the development of the symptoms of wet AMD, namely, the immature blood vessels that leak blood into the retina. In an early clinical trial involving 42 people, 9 out of 12 study participants did not require any further anti-VEGF injections for six months after one RGX-314 injection. To learn more about this topic, check out: Verywell Health.