Science & ResearchLatest Questions and Answers I have wet macular degeneration in my left eye and the dry form in my right eye. I had my first injection in my left eye about 5 months ago. I was told that I need to have these injections once a month for up to 15 months. If both types of this disease have no cure, why are the injections necessary? How long will my left eye feel tired after these injections? My doctor said it is very rare to see someone at the age of 57 have both forms of this disease and I am curious if this is accurate. Why do I have both types? [ 07/01/09 ]
It sounds like your physician is recommending anti-VEGF injections to keep your wet macular degeneration from worsening. Anti-VEGF medication helps abnormal blood vessels in wet age-related macular degeneration regress, and decreases the chance of bleeding or leakage that can further reduce your vision. These injections do not "cure" wet age-related macular degeneration, but they are one of the most effective treatments for the disease that we have available today. It is not uncommon to have both types of the disease, one in each eye. Dry age-related macular degeneration is the first stage of the disease, and sometimes will progress to the wet form. Although you are relatively young to have this eye disease, it does occur and is not extremely rare. My husband has received thirteen Lucentis injections in his right eye since August of 2007. The last injection was in November of 2008. He is scheduled for his next injection this month, but he refused the treatment because he feels that his vision is not improving and that he will only get another injection if the doctor comes up with a better medication. Are there any side effects if you stop the Lucentis injections? Will his eyes get worse? [ 07/01/09 ]
The main concern with stopping the Lucentis injections is that if abnormal blood vessels continue to grow, they could cause bleeding, fluid leakage, and result in decreased vision. While Lucentis has been shown to improve vision in patients with wet macular degeneration, the ultimate goal in most patients is to preserve and stabilize the current level of vision. Some patients respond so well to Lucentis after a few injections that their eyes remain stable after stopping injections. Other patients have recurrent leakage (active choroidal neovascularization) after stopping, and need maintenance injections at steady intervals. It is important to realize that not all patients respond the same and therefore should not be treated the same. Your husband's ophthalmologist would have the best understanding of his individual case, and would be able to make the best recommendation as to whether or not to continue with injections. My grandfather was diagnosed with macular degeneration several years ago. He keeps me updated on what he can see. Last week, he reported seeing a brick wall instead of a black spot. He can describe the wall in intricate detail. Occasionally, he will also mention seeing people, a horse, or even rows of trees "floating" by. Are these symptoms part of macular degeneration Also, what is to be expected next? [ 07/01/09 ]
There is a phenomenon known as Charles Bonnet syndrome, in which people with severe visual loss can have complex, highly detailed visual hallucinations. It occurs in people with macular degeneration, advanced cataracts, glaucoma, and other optic neuropathies. The theory is that the brain is attempting to compensate for the loss of visual stimuli by creating these hallucinations. It is important to reassure your grandfather that people who experience these hallucinations are mentally healthy and do not have a psychiatric disease. Sometimes the hallucinations will spontaneously resolve within a year or two. There is no known treatment for Charles Bonnet syndrome. One of my doctors prescribes a large dose of vitamin A for my macular degeneration treatment; however, another doctor says that this is not a good idea, so I am in a quandary. [ 07/01/09 ]
Vitamin A in high doses can be toxic to the liver. Vitamin A has only been proven to have benefit for typical retinitis pigmentosa (a condition not related to age-related macular degeneration). Due to its potential toxic effects in high doses, vitamin A supplementation for macular degeneration is not recommended. Most of the information that I have found concerning vitamin supplements suggests taking 15 milligrams of beta carotene. However, other sources discuss International Units (IUs) instead of milligrams. How many IUs of beta carotene equal 15 milligrams? [ 07/01/09 ]
1IU of beta carotene = 0.6 micrograms of beta carotene. Using this conversion, 15 milligrams of beta carotene = 25,000 IU of beta carotene. I know that zinc is recommended for age-related macular degeneration. However, the reports I have read indicate that zinc has been found in the eyes of those with macular degeneration, and may actually contribute to its cause. Other reports also state that zinc can cause urological and digestive problems. I would appreciate your input. [ 07/01/09 ]
Zinc has been proven to be one of the most important components of the AREDS vitamins, which decrease the rate of progression from dry AMD to wet AMD by about 25% over 6 years. Although zinc in high doses may cause problems, it is generally recommended to continue supplementation at the AREDS* dose (80mg of zinc oxide daily) if you have dry AMD with high risk characteristics. The current AREDS2 study includes an assessment of whether or not a reduced dosage of zinc is as effective as the current AREDS dose is in reducing the risk of progression to wet AMD. The results of this study are still pending, but your physician should be able to keep you updated on this information and provide you with treatment recommendations based on your specific medical history. *AREDS is the acronym for the Age-Related Eye Disease Study Can Lyrica affect your eyesight? [ 06/17/09 ]
Lyrica has been reported to cause blurry vision and/or double vision in patients. The mechanism of this side effect is unknown. My mother sees a white-grayish circle in the center of her right eye. The white circle has yellowish dots in it, which become grayish if she stares at something longer. She also sees a smaller white dot to the side of her left eye. Do you know what this condition is? The doctor says that she has a small hole in her retina. Is it a macular hole or dry macular degeneration? Is there any treatment that can improve her vision? Could rheopheresis or stem cell research help her? I would really appreciate your help. [ 06/17/09 ]
It is difficult to make a diagnosis without examining your mother. Symptoms of macular degeneration vary from patient to patient. Your mother's ophthalmologist should be able to tell you which condition she has, and what the available treatment options are. If she has a macular hole, surgery is sometimes an option. Rheopheresis and stem cell treatments are not typically used as established clinical therapies at this time. Search for a Question
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