Macular Degeneration Treatment
Macular degeneration is a terrible disorder that affects millions of people. The direct cause of macular degeneration is not truly known, as there is no known cure. But there are a wide variety of treatment options available. If you would like to know about treatment options for macular degeneration, please read on.
First you need to understand that the treatment options vary depending on what type of macular degeneration you have. These are: Dry macular degeneration or wet macular degeneration. Dry macular degeneration is more common and less severe; however it can develop into wet macular degeneration. Wet macular degeneration develops rapidly and occurs in about 10 percent of all macular degeneration cases.
The first macular degeneration treatment option is called Photodynamic therapy (PDT). Photodynamic therapy can be used to treat some patients with wet macular degeneration. It involves a two step procedure that can be performed right at your doctor's office. It uses light activated drugs to treat wet macular degeneration. Visudyne™ is the first drug therapy for patients utilizing the PDT therapy. This is a laser treatment. Although it is a laser treatment, it is far less damaging than laser photocoagulation (another treatment) and it is the treatment of choice in most cases.
Another macular degeneration Treatment option is to use the Macugen drug treatment. This is a relatively new treatment that uses a therapeutic molecule to attack proteins that cause abnormal blood vessel growth in the eye. The drug is injection into the eye. Treatments are required every six weeks. Clinical trials have shown that some macular degeneration patients have slower rates of vision loss. Some have even reported restored vision.
Another macular degeneration treatment option that will become available in 2006 is called RHEO (rheopheresis). RHEO is a type of blood filtration used to treat dry macular degeneration. It works by removing substances in the blood plasma that lead to macular degeneration. RHEO consists of eight treatments over a 14-week period.
The last macular degeneration treatment option is to take doses of antioxidants and Zinc supplements. Doing so can minimize further loss of vision. However, you must speak with your doctor and ophthalmologist regarding how much of the supplements are safe to take. If you take too many, it can be dangerous as your body will not be able to absorb other nutrients that it needs.
Each of these macular degeneration treatment options are by no means a cure. Most treatment options can only lessen the effects of macular degeneration, or at least slow the development of the disorder. There is still no know cure for macular degeneration. But rest assured, scientists all over the world are constantly looking into new treatments and into finding a cure.
|