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Suggest Treatment For Macular Degeneration

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Posted on Mon, 30 Nov 2015
Question: My mum (69 yrs old) has just been diagnosed with early stage of Age Related Macular Degeneration.
Is there any cure or treatment for this condition?
She is a diabetic for about 25 years.

Txx
XXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Michelle Gibson James (34 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
no cure but can delay progression

Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic

Age related macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of visual problems in older persons.

May be classified as early , intermediate or advanced with early and intermediate being more common. It would also be classified as wet or dry.

Exact cause not known but linked to age, heredity, race, smoking, hypertension, heart disease.

Smoking cessation and control of diabetes (since increases risk of heart disease) and hypertension are an important part of treatment.

It it though that the use of anti oxidants and zinc supplements may also have some benefit as well.

There are also medications that can be used eg lucentis or macugen or eylea. These medications are injected into the eye at a varied frequency.
Eylea every 8 weeks, macugen every 6 weeks and lucentis every 4 weeks.

There are also varied laser treatment options as well.

There is no cure but treatment can improve vision and delay progression.

I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Michelle Gibson James

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 16808 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Macular Degeneration

Brief Answer: no cure but can delay progression Detailed Answer: HI, thanks for using healthcare magic Age related macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of visual problems in older persons. May be classified as early , intermediate or advanced with early and intermediate being more common. It would also be classified as wet or dry. Exact cause not known but linked to age, heredity, race, smoking, hypertension, heart disease. Smoking cessation and control of diabetes (since increases risk of heart disease) and hypertension are an important part of treatment. It it though that the use of anti oxidants and zinc supplements may also have some benefit as well. There are also medications that can be used eg lucentis or macugen or eylea. These medications are injected into the eye at a varied frequency. Eylea every 8 weeks, macugen every 6 weeks and lucentis every 4 weeks. There are also varied laser treatment options as well. There is no cure but treatment can improve vision and delay progression. I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions