| Macular degeneration (sometimes referred to as | | | | Consequently, vision is improved in only a small |
| ARMD) is caused when the retina is compromised | | | | percentage of the people who have the |
| by yellow deposits called drusen or by abnormal | | | | procedure done. |
| blood cells that collect in the macula. The macula is | | | | Tranpupillary thermoplasty is a therapy that uses |
| the central part of the retina and protects the | | | | a low intensity laser light projected directly into |
| sensitive retina receptors. The disease progresses | | | | the unhealthy area of the eye. It is useful in |
| either gradually or, in some cases, quite quickly. | | | | sealing off the abnormal blood vessels that occur |
| Central vision deteriorates but side vision (or | | | | with wet ARMD. |
| peripheral vision) isn't affected. Each day, scientists | | | | A third treatment option that is sometimes used |
| look for an innovative new treatment for macular | | | | is photodynamic therapy. With this procedure, the |
| degeneration that will help people regain some of | | | | doctor injects the patient with a light-sensitive dye |
| the vision they have lost. | | | | that makes its way to the eye's retina. Once |
| At the present, there are no cures for ARMD. | | | | there, a cold laser light is used to activate the dye |
| The treatments that are currently available are | | | | and destroy any abnormal blood vessels. It is |
| focused on saving what is left of a person's vision. | | | | usually a procedure that requires several |
| Some patients do say, however, that their vision | | | | treatments before it is effective. |
| improves after certain treatments are performed. | | | | One other new treatment for macular |
| Most treatments will at least delay the disease | | | | degeneration is called VEGF (or anti vascular |
| before it progresses to the serious advanced | | | | endothelial growth factor). Doctors use anti-VEGF |
| "wet" stage. | | | | therapy to inhibit new blood vessels from growing. |
| One treatment used is called thermal laser | | | | It is a painless treatment where the drug is |
| photocoagulation and it is designed to keep the | | | | injected directly into the eye itself. The entire |
| macula from degenerating any further. It is a | | | | VEGF process takes about 4 months to complete |
| complicated procedure that often results in | | | | before any results are known. |
| damaging healthy as well as diseased cells. | | | | |