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There is as yet no available treatment for dry-type AMD. For wet-type AMD, laser treatment may occasionally halt the progress of the disease if you are seen very early in the progress of the disease.
Laser treatment of wet-type AMD
The laser (photocoagulation) focuses a high energy light beam in small bursts onto the damaged retina. The purpose of the laser is to seal the leaking blood vessels. Treatment takes only a few minutes.
Will the laser hurt?
Before the laser is applied local anaesthetic drops are put on the eye to numb it and drops instilled to dilate the pupil. This allows a contact lens held by the doctor to be placed against the eye. The contact lens helps keep the lids open while allowing the doctor to view the back of the eye in greater detail. Sometimes a dull thud sensation or occasionally a sharp pain is felt. Any discomfort experienced the same evening can be relieved by taking a mild painkiller and resting. If pain is still persistent after 24 hours, you must report to an eye casualty department.
Will the laser treatment affect my sight?
Yes. Immediately afterwards you will be completely dazzled by the light, and vision can be blurred temporarily. There will be a small blind patch at the site of the laser treatment but this will not interfere with your vision unless it is very close to the middle. Changes may occur in colour vision, night vision and in the field of vision – the range of vision you have on each side of an object on which your gaze is fixed.
On very rare occasions, vision can be made worse. It is rare for the effect on colour vision to be a problem.
Photodynamic therapy and other treatments for wet-type AMD
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) aims to maintain present levels of vision and to prevent further loss of vision. Currently, PDT is a three-monthly treatment involving a 10-minute infusion of a substance called Visudyne, followed by the application of a cool laser for 83 seconds. Care must be taken to cover all exposed skin, ie face, hands, head and the eyes for 48 hours after treatment.
Other treatments for wet-type AMD are being researched.
Nutritional supplements
There have been a number of press reports regarding the use of nutritional supplements in the treatment of AMD. While they cannot cure AMD, nor restore vision, they may play a role in helping people at high risk from developing advanced AMD.
New treatments for wet AMD
For information about Macugen (pegaptanib), Lucentis (ranibizumab) and Avastin (bevacizumab), please see New treatments for wet AMD.
