subject: Treatment Options For Wet Age-related Macular Degeneration Treatment [print this page] Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease associated with aging that gradually destroys sharp, central vision, which is needed for seeing objects clearly and for common daily tasks such as reading and driving. Wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels behind the retina start to grow under the macula. These new blood vessels tend to be very fragile and often leak blood and fluid, and if effective treatments are not taken to stop any further bleeding in the macular, damage to the macula occurs rapidly.
The symptoms of wet AMD may include straight lines or faces appear wavy; doorways seeming crooked; and a central blurry or blind spot, etc..
Is there any treatments for wet AMD? Strictly speaking, there is no real cure for wet AMD, but treatments to stop or slow the progression of this disease. That is to say, the disease and loss of vision may progress despite treatment. The usual treatments to ease off wet AMD include:
1. Laser surgery. For the reason that treatments for wet AMD can not cure macular degeneration, nor restore lost vision, the procedure by laser is just done by destroy the fragile blood vessels, preventing further loss of vision. However, while the laser destroy the blood vessels, some healthy tissue will also be destroyed at the same time. Another kind of laser surgery is performed by injecting with a light-sensitive medicine called verteporfin to destroy abnormal blood vessels in the retina, slowing the progression of wet macular degeneration.
2. Drug treatment. Wet AMD can also be treated with new drugs that are injected into the eye (anti-VEGF therapy) to promote the development of the leaky, immature blood vessels and block the effects of the growth factor.
3. Acupuncture therapy. This is a traditional Chinese treatment by using a fine needles to stimulate invisible lines of energy or what Chinese usually call Qi so as to correct the flow of Qi beneath the surface of the skin. Qi in Chinese culture is considered fairly important in the maintenance of good good health, therefore once the Qi is changed correctly, the function of the body can be changed as well.
4. Physical therapy. This procedure applies the use of microcurrent stimulation to improve circulation to the retina by delivering low-intensity electricity to the eye area. With the microcurrent stimulation, harmful waste products are believed to be removed.
