How Can Wet AMD Be Treated?

Laser photocoagulation treatment is one option for the treatment of AMD. This treatment involves using a very powerful beam of laser light that is aimed at the area of new blood vessel growth. This laser light beam is powerful enough to cause permanent damage to the new blood vessels within the area being treated, but it can also cause permanent damage to the retina.

Another option for the management of wet AMD is photodynamic therapy (PDT) with Visudyne®. In Visudyne® photodynamic therapy, patients receive an injection (generally through a vein in their arm) of the light-sensitive drug Visudyne®, which travels through the blood vessels in the body and accumulates in the abnormal blood vessels in the eye. A special cold laser is then used to light up or activate the dye in the blood vessels of the eye.  It then only damages the blood vessels and tissue very close to the activated medicine without causing damage to the retina.  Hence, the light-sensitive dye "works" only when deliberately activated by the special laser.  PDT, however, is not approved for all AMD patients.  Alternatively, it may be possible to surgically remove the abnormal blood vessels.  The surgical procedure, however, is not yet proven.  Additionally, some researchers are testing radiation treatment, other light-activated compounds, and various other medicines for the treatment of AMD.  No treatment has been shown to work in all cases of AMD.  Some patients prefer to have no treatment and allow a natural scar to form.

Alcon Research, Ltd has made a new experimental medicine for wet AMD. This medicine is an ”angiostatic agent”.