In the early stages of macular degeneration, you may be able to manage your condition with regular eye check-ups and nutritional supplements.

Diet and nutritional supplements

There is active research (age-related eye disease studies) on the use of vitamins and nutritional supplements called antioxidants to prevent or slow macular degeneration.

Antioxidants are thought to protect against the damaging effects of oxygen-charged molecules called free radicals. A potentially important group of antioxidants are called carotenoids. These are the pigments that give fruits and vegetables their colour. Two carotenoids that occur naturally in the macula are lutein and zeaxanthin. Some research studies suggest that people who have diets high in lutein and zeaxanthin may have a lower risk of developing macular degeneration. Kale, raw spinach, and collard greens are vegetables with the highest amount of lutein and zeaxanthin.

You can also buy over the counter nutritional supplements that are high in these and other antioxidants.

Intravitreal injections

An intravitreal injection is a procedure to install medication directly into the cavity in the back of the eye. The most popular and effective treatment for wet macular degeneration is an intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (anti-VEGF) medications.

In macular degeneration, vascular endothelial growth factors promote abnormal blood vessels, which leak into the retina, causing damage. The anti-VEGF drugs inhibit the formation of these new abnormal blood vessels and can decrease retinal swelling.

These injections are usually given on a monthly or bimonthly basis until the retina has stabilised.

Laser treatments

In some cases of wet macular degeneration, we may recommend laser treatment. This involves the use of painless laser light to destroy abnormal, leaking blood vessels under the retina. When laser treatment is possible, it may slow or stop the progression of the disease. Still, it is generally not expected to bring back any vision that has already been lost.

• Low vision aids
  • Unfortunately, macular degeneration may still progress to severe vision loss. In these cases, low vision aids may help make it easier to live with the decreased vision of macular degeneration.
  • Low vision aids range from hand-held magnifying glasses to sophisticated systems that use video cameras to enlarge a printed page. In addition, lifestyle aids such as large print books, tape-recorded books or magazines, large print playing cards, talking clocks and scales and many other devices are available.