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How
is AMD detected?
Eye
care professionals detect AMD during an eye examination that
includes:
Visual acuity test: This eye chart test measures how well
you see at various distances.
Pupil dilation: This examination enables your eye care
professional to see more of the retina and look for signs of
AMD. To do this, drops are placed into the eye to dilate (widen)
the pupil. After the examination, your vision may remain blurred
for several hours.
Tonometry: This is a standard test that determines the
fluid pressure inside the eye. Increased pressure is a possible
sign of glaucoma, another common eye problem in people over age
60.
One
of the most common early signs of AMD is the presence of drusen.
 Drusen
are tiny yellow deposits in the retina. Your eye care
professional can see them during an eye examination.
The
presence of drusen alone does not indicate a disease, but it
might mean that the eye is at risk for developing more severe
AMD.
While
conducting the examination, your eye care professional may ask
you to look at an Amsler
grid.
This grid is a
pattern that resembles a checkerboard. You will be asked to
cover one eye and stare at a black dot in the center of the
grid. While staring at the dot, you may notice that the straight
lines in the pattern appear wavy to you. This may be a sign of
wet AMD. (See Amsler Grid below.)
If
your eye care professional suspects you have wet AMD, you may
need to have a test called
fluorescein
angiography.
In
this test, a special dye is injected into a vein in your arm.
Pictures are then taken as the dye passes through the blood
vessels in the retina.
The
photos help your eye care professional evaluate leaking blood
vessels to determine whether they can be treated.
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How is AMD treated?
Vitamins and minerals. Many researchers and eyecare
practitioners believe that antioxidant vitamins, such as
beta-carotene (vitamin A) and vitamins C and E, may protect the
macula from damage.
In fact, a recently published study of over 3600 people found
that supplementation with vitamins C and E, beta-carotene and
zinc reduced certain patients' risk of progressing to advanced
AMD by about 28%. This number reflects those patients with a lot
of intermediate or large drusen,
but not those with limited intermediate drusen or multiple small
drusen.
Because of their findings, the researchers recommend that
patients at risk of developing advanced AMD consider taking
antioxidant and zinc supplements. Participants received:
- 500 milligrams (mg) of vitamin C
- 400 international units (IU) of vitamin E
- 15 mg of beta-carotene
- and 80 mg of zinc oxide
Bausch & Lomb is now marketing these nutrients in one
supplement, called Ocuvite PreserVision.
Note that smokers should avoid beta carotene supplements, as
they increase the risk of lung cancer in smokers and those
who've recently quit.*
The eyecare community does not agree on the benefits of zinc
or antioxidant supplements: more study is needed, especially on
the long-term effects of high-dose supplementation. Keep in mind
also that too much of any vitamin or mineral may affect the
body's ability to absorb other important nutrients.
Visudyne drug treatment. For those with wet AMD, the
Food and Drug Administration has recently approved Visudyne, the
first-ever drug therapy for this form of the disease. It's only
for those whose new blood vessels are characterized as
"predominantly classic": about 40% to 60% of new wet
AMD patients, according to Visudyne maker CIBA Vision.
In this treatment procedure, the doctor injects Visudyne into
your arm, then activates the drug by shining a laser into your
eye. In clinical trials, 67% of patients found that either their
vision loss stabilized or that their vision improved.
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How is laser surgery
performed?
Laser treatment. Laser photocoagulation may help wet
AMD patients by destroying new blood vessels to prevent leakage.
Scientists are currently studying laser treatments for dry AMD
as well.
Low vision devices for vision loss.
Although much
progress has been made recently in ARMD treatment research, as
things stand now, any central vision lost to dry AMD will
probably not be restored. Your eyecare practitioner may ask you
to check your vision with an Amsler grid, a piece of paper with
a black grid of lines. Viewing the Amsler grid separately with
each eye helps you monitor your vision loss.
For those who have suffered vision loss, many low vision
devices are available to help improve vision by using magnifying
lenses and bright lights. Some low vision aids shift images to
the periphery for clearer vision.
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Because
only the center of your vision is usually affected, people
rarely go blind from the disease. However, AMD can sometimes
make it difficult to read, drive, or perform other daily
activities that require fine, central vision.
