Eye Doctor, Dr. Almallah's Corner

Serving New Jersey, Monmouth County, & Ocean County

“Throwing a “Wet” Blanket”

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects the part of the eye needed for central vision and is the leading cause of blindness in people over age 60. While the “dry” form of AMD is vastly more common, “wet” (or neovascular) AMD accounts for 10 percent of cases but causes 90 percent of AMD-related vision loss. As abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina, they leak blood and fluid and cause scar tissue that can result in sudden and severe vision loss. Until recently, most people with wet AMD had two options: photocoagulation or photodynamic therapy. Now there is a third. The FDA has approved pegaptanib, which is an aptamer, a drug that blocks the action of a substance that stimulates the formation of new blood vessels. Many older people develop age-related macular degeneration as part of the body’s natural aging process. The best way to protect yourself from loss of vision is with regular, thorough eye exams. You can’t treat a disease you don’t know you have. Macular degeneration can cause different symptoms in different people.