| Besides FDA-approved AMD treatments, there | | | | Radiation treatment such as X-rays is also used |
| are still many investigational treatments that are | | | | to deal with AMD, which is still under early clinical |
| under trial. These treatments are provided only if | | | | studies. |
| the patient acts as a volunteer to test their | | | | AMD can be treated in another particular way. |
| safety and effectiveness. | | | | Since AMD is associated with slow blood flow and |
| While Avastin has been used to treat colorectal | | | | capillary vessel damage caused by macro-proteins |
| cancer, it has not been approved to treat macular | | | | and fatty components, procedures that can |
| degeneration. Some ECPs only use Avastin in the | | | | remove these harmful substances are effective. |
| form of off label. Studies show that Avastin | | | | One of such procedures is the RHED procedure, |
| brings positive results in AMD treatment. Like | | | | which is also under trials. |
| these FDA-approved treatments such as Lucentis | | | | Injected into a vein in the arm, the ICG dye is |
| and Macugen, Avastin also function by injection | | | | used to detect the presence and location of |
| into the eye. | | | | neovascular vessels. The Feeder Vessel Therapy |
| Another treatment aiming at stopping the | | | | also uses a high speed camera to trace the dye |
| abnormal blood vessel growth is named Vascular | | | | during its progression into the abnormal vessels. |
| Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) Trap-Eye. This | | | | AMD patients always have central blind spots, so |
| treatment was reported to be as effective as | | | | that doctors have invented a tiny, implanted |
| Lucentis for wet AMD. | | | | device to magnify images onto the retina. This |
| Retaane treats advanced macular degeneration | | | | treatment is known as implantable telescope, |
| by attacking enzymes, which allows abnormal | | | | which has received significant clinical trial results. |
| blood vessel growth. Left untreated, enzymes will | | | | Another potential AMD treatment is Transpupillary |
| weaken the walls of retinal blood vessels. Retaane | | | | Thermotherapy, which combines an infrared laser |
| performs in a way that is quite different from | | | | and drug treatment. While its creator announces |
| most of those AMD treatments. It is deposited | | | | positive effects, some patients say it is |
| behind the eye alongside the sclera and will be | | | | dissatisfying. |
| replaced every six months. | | | | Other researches focus on both artificial retinas |
| By preventing abnormal blood vessel | | | | and gene therapy, which are in early stages. |
| development, Combretastatin is indicated to slow | | | | Artificial retina can permanently recover the vision |
| or halt myopia AMD progression, which affects | | | | of AMD patients. Gene therapy is conceived to |
| young people with some eye diseases. The | | | | introduce specially encoded genes to alter AMD |
| company is still carrying out clinical studies to | | | | process. |
| demonstrate that whether the treatment is | | | | For patients failed to get satisfied with all those |
| effective for AMD on old people. | | | | moderate treatments. They can finally resort to |
| Encapsulated Cell Technology (ECT) is designed to | | | | an AMD surgery, which can remove the damaged |
| maintain sustained release of genetically | | | | tissues. |
| engineered cells, in order to reduce retinal damage. | | | | |