Macular Degeneration
Dry Macular Degeneration Macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of blindness in older Americans. There are two types: Dry macular degeneration and Wet Macular degeneration. Dry macular degeneration is diagnosed when drusen accumulate under the retina. Drusen represent a waste-product of the retina. When the eye loses it's ability to clear this drusen, it accumulates under the retina.
Sometimes, this drusen leads to the development of new blood vessels under the retina. These new blood vessels leak fluid and blood under the retina. If this leakage occurs in the center of the retina, or macula, our vision becomes blurry. This is known as Wet macular degeneration.
Wet Macular Degeneration We can treat dry macular degeneration with special vitamins to help prevent the development of wet macular degeneration. We have four options with which to treat wet macular degeneration: 1) Photodynamic laser therapy (PDT); 2) Traditional thermal laser therapy; 3) Steroid injections; or 4) Macugen injections. These are the most up-to-date treatments available today.