Science & Research

Wet age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) can cause vision loss for a variety of reasons, but most of these reasons are not treated with surgery. The prognosis and visual recovery depend on the exact reason why the wet ARMD caused vision loss, and exactly what surgery is being done. These questions are best directed toward your retina specialist, as the amount of damage done to the retina by wet ARMD, both acutely and chronically, can widely affect the possibility for visual recovery down the road.

• Read more about macular degeneration treatment.

There are reports linking warfarin use with development of wet age-related macular degeneration/macular bleeding. According to a 2003 research report in Heart, Volume 89, issue 9, p.985, it is recommended that the international normalized ratio (INR) be kept on the lower end of the recommended range in patients with a history of or recent diagnosis of wet macular degeneration/macular bleeding. Your eye doctor can provide you with more detailed information about your specific situation.

Your symptoms could be caused from a variety of conditions, some benign and some vision threatening. However, the vast majority of both types of conditions would be detected on an exam. For example, a scratched cornea can usually be picked up on an exam. AREDS vitamins have only been shown to be beneficial for patients with a certain type of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). If you do not have ARMD, the oral supplements may be of unclear benefit. You may find value from a second opinion by a retina specialist especially if you have swelling near the macular or retinal blood vessel changes. Please take your records from your first exam to your second opinion appointment.

Some studies have reported an increased association between aspirin consumption and a slight increase in rates of various types of late-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD. This theory is still undergoing study, as the association shown does not prove cause and effect. In other words, these studies do not explain how aspirin might be causing increased progression of AMD, only that it people at higher risk for AMD are often taking aspirin. Aspirin is often prescribed against pain and heart disease, and is used regularly by about nearly 1 in 5 people in the US.

It is always prudent to consult your physician(s) before taking supplements and either over-the-counter or prescription medications. Your physician will be able to help balance potential risks against the other potential health benefits of any activity, including taking aspirin.

Avastin is a common treatment for wet-age related macular degeneration (ARMD), however this eye injection does not cure the disease. Instead Avastin only controls ARMD. It is not uncommon to eventually require treatment again after stopping Avastin as the wet ARMD will recur, and many patients require lifelong Avastin therapy. If you have an eye pressure rise after the injection, the eye fluid may need to be removed after the injection to prevent vision loss from glaucomatous damage to your optic nerve. Some patients can receive Avastin injections less frequently than every four weeks, so talk with your retina specialist to see if you meet criteria for an extended dosing interval. The Avastin is typically dosed every four weeks, however, if the bleeding is still active. Another eye injection, called Eylea, can require less frequent dosing after a certain interval of monthly treatments. You can also ask your retina specialist if you are a candidate to receive Eylea injections instead, but you will still likely need to have fluid removed from the eye afterwards.

Prism lenses can correct double vision caused by misalignment of the two eyes. Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) typically does not cause eye misalignment, so prism lenses would not be helpful in most cases of double vision due to ARMD. If your double vision is present at any point when either eye is closed, it is unlikely that prism lenses will help.

No definite link has been established between iron infusions for anemia and age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). Very high levels of iron may be linked to a variety of retinal diseases due to increased oxidative stress in some patients, but this idea is a theory that is undergoing study. Oxidative stress occurs when the body cannot detoxify certain chemicals associated with metabolism of oxygen. If you have low levels of iron and are taking supplements to get back to normal levels of iron to treat anemia, the potential of oxidative stress toxicity is less likely.

If your husband has wet age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), Lucentis is a very common treatment. In clinical trials, Lucentis preserved vision in 90% of patients, but improved vision in only 40% of patients with wet ARMD. Your husband many not belong to the 40% of patients that notices significant visual improvement after Lucentis treatment. Other commonly used treatments for ARMD include Eylea and Avastin, which have comparable treatment success rates to Lucentis. Some patients may react better to one eye injection compared to another. Ask your husband's retina specialist if a trial of one of these other wet ARMD injections would be appropriate.