| Though there is no permanent cure for Macular | | | | Photodynamic therapy or PDT is used to halt or |
| Degeneration, some medications may actually | | | | slow down the progress of vision loss and |
| assist in halting or slowing down the progress of | | | | relatively painless in which a light-sensitizing drug |
| the disease and loss of vision. While some of | | | | called verteporfin (Visudyne) is injected into the |
| these medications are totally experimental, others | | | | bloodstream which settles in the CNV. Then when |
| have been found to be effective and have | | | | non-thermal light is directed at the macula, it |
| already been approved by the FDA. | | | | activates the drug releasing substances that |
| The FDA approved a new type of medication | | | | obstruct the growth of CNVs under the macula |
| called Macugen drug treatment, developed by | | | | transforming them into a thin scar. |
| Eyetech Pharmaceuticals and Pfizer, in 2004. In | | | | It is also known that high dose of antioxidant |
| this procedure, intravitreous injection or injection | | | | vitamins such as beta-carotene (vitamin A) and |
| into the eye is administered once every 6 weeks. | | | | vitamins C and E, and zinc supplements slows |
| The drug injected uses a therapeutic particle to | | | | down the progression of macular degeneration. |
| attack a protein that causes the growth of | | | | Treatment with these antioxidants and zinc |
| abnormal blood vessels or choroidal | | | | reduces the probability of developing advanced |
| neovascularizations (CNVs) under the Macula. The | | | | Macular Degeneration AMD and loss of vision. |
| medication seems to be one of the most | | | | There are also other experimental treatments, |
| successful treatments for AMD so far. | | | | medications and clinical trials being conducted by |
| In Visudyne drug medication, a procedure called | | | | researchers and investigators. |