Macular Degeneration

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a factor normally found in the eye that helps to promote new blood vessel growth. As discussed in Question 59, prior to birth VEGF is believed to play a...

The abnormal blood vessels that grow underneath and into the retina often lead to a scar over time. In a minority of cases, the disease is caught early enough that regression or disappearance of the...

A general rule of thumb is that wet macular degeneration occurs roughly 50% of the time over a 5-year period in the fellow eye of a patient who has wet macular degeneration. There are certain...

I have diabetes. Is macular degeneration related to my diabetes? Will it affect my diabetes? Age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy are two distinct entities.They are not related, nor are they believed to impact one...

Vascular endothelial growth factor, or VEGF, is a substance made by cells in the body that stimulates new blood vessel growth. It also increases leakiness, or permeability, of blood vessels. Prior to being born, when...

Fluid in the retina refers to leakage from the abnormal blood vessels associated with wet macular degeneration. While this is different from bleeding, the abnormal blood vessels can leak either fluid or blood, and some-times...

Macular degeneration does not typically affect the retina in a symmetric or even pattern. Small areas, or even large areas, may be severely affected, while adjacent areas are minimally affected or not affected at all....

When the macula is in its normal configuration (i.e., when it has its normal curve in the back of the eye), images that are seen by the macula are transmitted to the brain and recognized...

There is no limit to the number of OCTs a patient can have. The diagnostic tool utilized in OCT light poses no risk, either to the patient’s eye or systemically. The beauty of this test...

Optical coherence tomography is an imaging technique that allows cross-sectional scans of the retina. This technique utilizes light that is directed onto the tissue and reflects to form a pattern, similar to the process of...

There are side effects and risks to fluorescein angiography. After fluorescein dye is injected into your arm, your skin will turn a yellowish color for several hours. In addition, fluorescein is removed from the body...

A fluorescein angiogram is a dye test that helps to diagnose and characterize diseases of the retina. Fluorescein is a dye that is injected into a vein in your arm and then travels throughout the...

Wet macular degeneration is first suspected by your ophthalmologist based on symptoms you may describe. These symptoms include distorted vision, decreased vision, blurred vision, or loss of central vision. Upon dilated examination, your eye care...

The most common symptom of wet macular degeneration is distorted vision. This can be most easily appreciated when staring at objects that have a series of straight lines such as a windowpane, tiles, or the...

Wet macular degeneration is an advanced form of macular degeneration in which new, abnormal blood vessels grow beneath or into the retina or the layers directly below the retina. In some instances, these new blood...

Small studies have suggested bilberry may be helpful in preventing macular degeneration occurrence or progression. It has not, however, been the focus of a randomized, controlled trial (the type of trial that is most helpful...

Several studies have suggested that eating fish and other foods high in omega-3 fatty acids is associated with a reduced risk of developing both early and late age-related macular degeneration. Omega-3 fatty acids are antioxidants...

Green leafy vegetables are sources of lutein and zeaxanthin carotenoids that are concentrated in the eye and may play a protective role against age-related macular degeneration. Studies have not confirmed conclusively that eating green leafy...

Many of the over-the-counter eye supplements advertise the inclusion of lutein. Does lutein help to prevent macular degeneration or its progression, and should I take it? Lutein is a pigment in the macula that along...

AREDS supplements, like other types of vitamins, including daily multivitamins, are over-the-counter and do not require a prescription; however, it is strongly recommended that patients notify or discuss with their primary care provider their intent...

At this time, there is no evidence that the AREDS supplements are protective or beneficial for those without evidence of macular degeneration. Family members of patients with macular degeneration often ask if taking the AREDS...

Vitamins do not reverse dry macular degeneration. Vitamins are not a cure for macular degeneration. Studies have shown, however, that vitamins may be helpful in preventing progression of dry macular degeneration and/or limiting vision loss....

Even if they aren’t recommended for my stage of macular degeneration, will it hurt me to take them? Vitamin supplementation is recommended for patients with a specific stage of macular degeneration. The patients who have...

There are numerous eye vitamins available. Those recommended for patients with age-related macular degeneration are supplements that have the AREDS formulation (see Question 39). To be fair, it is not known whether other formulations may...

I often hear of the AREDS study or formulation. What is the AREDS formulation? AREDS, or the Age-Related Eye Disease Study, was a large study involving more than 4700 patients that investigated the benefits of...