| Till now there is no effective cure for age-related | | | | the treatment, the skin and the eyes should not |
| macular degeneration. This is mainly because little | | | | be exposed to light for five days. This treatment |
| is known about the cause of age-related macular | | | | doest not bring back the lost vision or stops vision |
| degeneration. Several new treatments are in the | | | | loss. It only slows the rate of progress of wet |
| clinical stage and most of the existing treatments | | | | AMD. The effect of photodynamic is temporary |
| only delay the progress of the disease. | | | | and should be repeated. |
| Dry AMD: There is no effective cure for dry | | | | Laser treatment, also known as laser |
| AMD but if detected at the initial or intermediate | | | | photocoagulation, is used to seal the leaking of the |
| stage further advancement of the disease can be | | | | abnormal blood vessels and to stop their further |
| delayed. Vitamins are prescribed for delaying the | | | | growth. This treatment is found to be effective in |
| advancement of the disease from the | | | | 15% of the patients. In this treatment high |
| intermediate stage to advanced stage. Several | | | | energy light is passed on to the abnormal blood |
| treatments are in the experimental stage. | | | | vessels. This treatment is usually performed at an |
| The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) of | | | | eye clinic or at the doctor's office. |
| National Eye Institute in 2001 released a report | | | | Side effects include loss of some vision and |
| after conducting a study on 5,000 individuals | | | | damage to healthy tissue. Laser photocoagulation |
| suffering from AMD. The report says that a | | | | treatment does not provide a complete cure and |
| specific high-dose formulation of antioxidants and | | | | the blood vessels can grow again in a later stage. |
| zinc can considerably reduce the advancement of | | | | Injections into the eye are a new form of |
| dry AMD from intermediate to advanced stage. | | | | treatment. The drug used is Macugen, which was |
| The supplements will not restore vision or cure | | | | approved in the United States in December 2004. |
| AMD but will effectively check its progress. It is | | | | The drug hampers the growth of abnormal blood |
| wise to take the vitamin after consulting an | | | | vessels. The injection need to be administered |
| ophthalmologist. | | | | every six weeks. Like other treatments, macugen |
| Wet AMD: Photodynamic therapy, laser | | | | only slows the progress of age-related macular |
| treatment, and injections are the major | | | | degeneration. |
| treatments for wet AMD. Photo dynamic therapy | | | | Several new treatments are in the experimental |
| (PDT) is highly effective, if Wet AMD is detected | | | | stage and some of them have got approval. |
| early. Visudyne, a light sensitive dye, is injected | | | | Several angiostatic therapies and combination |
| into the body. This dye sticks to the lining of the | | | | therapies are in clinical trial and it is expected that |
| abnormal blood vessels in the retina. The dye is | | | | a breakthrough in the treatment of AMD will be |
| then activated with light and this destroys the | | | | achieved soon. Individuals can take part in these |
| abnormal blood vessels. The treatment involves | | | | clinical trials after going through the necessary |
| no pain and is usually performed at the doctor's | | | | formalities. |
| officer or eye clinic. | | | | Read about ear infections, cat ear infection, feline |
| The advantage of this treatment is that it does | | | | ear infection, what causes thirst, excessive thirst |
| not destroy healthy tissue. Lower back pain is a | | | | in dogs , thirsty dogs and other information at the |
| side effect associated with this treatment. After | | | | Health And Nutrition Tips website. |