Age-related macular degeneration
What is age-related macular degeneration?
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye condition affecting a small central area of the back of the eye, called the macula.
What causes age-related macular degeneration?
The risk factors for AMD include age, gender, genetic factors, smoking, sunlight, environmental factors and diet. It most affects those over the age of 65 years and women are affected more so than men.
There are two types of AMD called wet and dry. Dry is more common and develops very slowly, causing a gradual change in your central vision. Wet AMD develops in 10-15% of people and can develop very quickly due to new blood vessel growth causing a small bleed at the macula.
Will it affect my eyesight?
It affects the central vision when looking directly at a person’s face, watching TV or reading causing objects to be slightly blurred or distorted in the initial stages leading to a blank patch or a slight smudge in the centre of your vision over a period of time. It does not affect the peripheral vision which remains unaffected.
Are there any treatments for age-related macular degeneration?
Wet age-related macular degeneration
Wet age-related macular degeneration can be treated at an AMD clinic with injections given into the eye on a regular basis to stop further abnormal blood vessel growth and bleeding at the macula. These injections bind a specific protein that is produced in excess in this condition called Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2). The injections used to treat wet AMD include Lucentis, Eylea and Vabysmo.
Dry age-related macular degeneration
Research is continuously being conducted to find new treatments for dry AMD. AMD clinics like ours have been following emerging novel therapies for treating dry age-related macular degeneration which have shown promise.
Valeda Light Delivery System or Photobiomodulation Therapy
Valeda Light Delivery System uses photobiomodulation with three wavelengths of light to stimulate the layer of cells in the back of the eye called the retinal pigment epithelium to keep them healthy for longer.
Anti-VEGF injections of Syfovre
Dry age-related macular degeneration can also be treated with the latest anti-VEGF injections of Syfovre which have been shown to slow down the progression of geographic atrophy.
What are the risks?
Valeda photobiomodulation therapy is a non-invasive safe therapy with no known side effects.
Anti-VEGF injections have a 1:3000 chance of causing an infection inside the eye although precautions are taken to avoid the occurrence of the same.
Do vitamins help in age-related macular degeneration?
Certain vitamins as specifically used in the Age-Related Eye Disease Studies (AREDS/AREDS2) such as antioxidant plant pigments Lutein and Zeaxanthin, vitamins C & E and the minerals zinc and copper showed that the risk of developing wet age-related macular degeneration in high risk dry age related macular degeneration was reduced by 25%.
How is cataract surgery done at an AMD clinic?
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Our Treatments and Price List
VALEDA PHOTOBIOMODULATION THERAPY (PBM)
| first treatment including consultation | £1600 |
| subsequent treatment | £1350 |
| PBM treatment cycle is 9 sessions over 3 weeks on non-consecutive days; e.g. Monday, Wednesday and Friday; 2-3 treatment cycles required per year to maintain benefit. |
| Vabysmo eye injection | £1950 |
| Syfovre eye injection | £1950 |
| Lucentis eye injection | £1750 |
| Eylea eye injection | £1850 |
| Avastin eye injection | £750 |
If you would like to discuss Ophthalmology treatments, please get in touch with a member of our team
