Treatment of macular degeneration

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor II Nguyen Thai Hung - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Danang International Hospital.

Macular degeneration in the eyes is one of the leading causes of vision loss in people over 60 years old, when the macula is degenerated, central vision will be blurred, dark, and the received image will be distorted. , deformed, not even seen. When the eyes are impaired, it will greatly affect work and daily activities.

Macular degeneration in the eye is a common name for a group of chronic retinal degenerative diseases, the disease causes loss of central vision, the visible image becomes blurred, especially the middle part of the image is distorted, distorted. .
Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss in people over 60 years of age. Macular degeneration in young people can be inherited, this is a rare congenital disease, the disease usually begins in young adulthood. In addition, research in recent years shows that blue light from technological devices such as phones, televisions, computers, etc. causes the rate of macular degeneration in young people to increase rapidly.

To diagnose macular degeneration in the eye, the doctor may use the following methods:
Visual acuity test: using vision tables to test the eye's ability to see at near and far distances difference. Tonometry: The doctor will use special instruments to measure the pressure inside the eye. Fundus examination: the doctor will use drops to dilate the pupils, then use a special magnifying glass to examine the retina and optic nerve to look for signs of macular degeneration and other problems. of the eye. Using the Amsler grid: the patient will be asked to look at a checkered piece of paper like a checkerboard. The patient is covered with one eye and is looking directly at a black dot in the center of the grid. If the lines in the Amsler grid are wavy or some lines are missing, you may have macular degeneration. Angiography or OCT (scanning light): In an angiogram, a dye is injected into a vein in the patient's arm. Images are taken as the dye reaches the eye through the blood vessels of the retina. The photos will show the exact location if new blood vessels, bleeding, or fluid are present in the macula.
OTC scans can help see fluid or blood underneath the retina without using dye.

With dry macular degeneration, there is currently no cure for it. Patients may be prescribed high doses of zinc, Vitamins A, C, E, B2 supplements to prevent the disease from getting worse.
Vitamin A: are antioxidants that play an important role in enhancing vision in the eyes, helping to maintain the functioning of many tissues and membranes in the eye. Vitamin A is abundant in animal liver, fish, milk, carrots, pumpkin, ... Vitamin C and vitamin E: help protect cells and tissues of the eye from attack by free radicals. Vitamin C is found in tomatoes, cabbage, broccoli, citrus fruits,... Vitamin B2: helps restore visual muscle function, enhances vision. Vitamin B2 is abundant in milk, eggs, animal liver, brewer's yeast, vegetables, ... Zinc: concentrated in the retina, helps protect and enhance vision in the eyes. Zinc is abundant in foods such as oysters, shrimp, crab, beef, cereals, yogurt, ... Omega 3 is an unsaturated fatty acid, is a component of the retina, helps to enhance vision. protect eyes. Omega 3 is found in milk, soy milk, fish, ...

Wet macular degeneration, there is currently no treatment that can reverse the degenerative process, some methods are used to prevent the disease from becoming more serious, including:
Use of degenerative drugs Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a protein that stimulates the formation of new blood vessels, increasing vascular permeability and oxygenation of tissues. However, an overgrowth of endothelial growth factor causes fluid leakage and proliferation of new blood vessels in the retina.
Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs include: Bevacizumab (Avastin), Ranibizumab (Lucentis), Aflibercept (Eyle),... are monoclonal antibodies, inhibiting growth factor formation endothelium, which helps stop the growth of new blood vessels, and stops bleeding and drainage from abnormal blood vessels in the eye. This group of drugs is used by injection directly into the vitreous of the eye. The eye will be numbed before the injection. After the injection, the patient must stay in the hospital for observation for a few days.
Laser therapy: High-energy laser light is used to destroy abnormal blood vessels that develop in macular degeneration. Laser photodynamic therapy (PDT): a light-sensitive drug used to treat abnormal blood vessels. A laser is then shined into the eye to activate the drug, destroying the leaky blood vessels without harming other parts of the eye. This approach is particularly effective when treating a variant of wet macular degeneration, idiopathic monoclonal multiple sclerosis. Improved vision: devices with special lenses that create magnified images of objects help people with macular degeneration make the most of their remaining vision. Use drugs and a diet rich in vitamins and minerals similar to the treatment of wet macular degeneration to enhance eye nutrition. When there are signs of macular degeneration in the eyes, patients should soon go to medical facilities with eye specialists for examination and treatment. Depending on the stage of eye damage of each patient, the doctor will use an appropriate treatment regimen. If left untreated for a long time, macular degeneration will worsen, vision will gradually decline.
In the case of wet macular degeneration, if left untreated, abnormal blood vessels in the eye can bleed for a long time, causing scarring, central vision can be permanently lost, quality of life, etc. The patient's quality of life will be severely impaired.
Specialist II Nguyen Thai Hung has 13 years of experience as an eye doctor at C Hospital Da Nang and Ngu Hanh Son General Hospital - Da Nang. Currently working as an Ophthalmologist at the Inter-specialty Clinic of Medical Examination - Internal Medicine, Vinmec International General Hospital Da Nang.
Customers can directly go to Vinmec Health system nationwide to visit or contact the hotline here for support.

When there are signs of macular degeneration in the eyes, patients should soon go to medical facilities with eye specialists for examination and treatment. Depending on the stage of eye damage of each patient, the doctor will use an appropriate treatment regimen. If left untreated for a long time, macular degeneration will worsen, vision will gradually decline.
In the case of wet macular degeneration, if left untreated, abnormal blood vessels in the eye can bleed for a long time, causing scarring, central vision can be permanently lost, quality of life, etc. The patient's quality of life will be severely impaired.