At this time, the recommendations for patients with dry macular degeneration revolve around nutrition and vitamin supplementation. Supplements may help to prevent progression of dry macular degeneration, as discussed in other questions in this book. There are no treatments per se to reverse either the anatomic changes or visual changes of dry macular degeneration.
Fortunately, there is a great deal of research currently focused on dry macular degeneration. Past studies, which were not successful, included applying a pattern of laser to patients who had intermediate dry macular degeneration, blood transfusions to try to remove toxic elements that were thought to possibly lead to dry macular degeneration from the blood, and a periocular injection of a steroidlike derivative to prevent progression from dry to wet macular degeneration. None of these treatments proved beneficial.
However, numerous innovative approaches to dry macular degeneration are being tested in humans, including treatments to prevent the dry disease from progressing to wet macular degeneration, as well as treatments to prevent progression of the dry disease to more advanced stages of the dry disease (geographic atrophy).
Vitamin supplementation, which is discussed more extensively in Part 4, may help to prevent progression from intermediate stages of dry macular degeneration to more advanced disease (geographic atrophy or wet macular degeneration). Other approaches currently under investigation include preventing buildup of toxic breakdown products that lead to drusen development, treatment to induce drusen regression or disappearance with the hope that this prevents development of advanced macular degeneration, and control of inflammation to limit drusen development or progression.
Treatments are even being investigated that will limit or prevent further progression of atrophy for patients who have already developed various stages of geographic atrophy. Hopefully, breakthroughs will occur over the next several years, allowing clinicians to slow, stop, or prevent dry macular degeneration altogether.