Get treatment for your macular degeneration in Vienna

Depending on your type of macular degeneration, you may need urgent treatment

Get treatment for your macular degeneration in Vienna

Depending on your type of macular degeneration, you may need urgent treatment

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The current wet-AMD treatment we recommend is anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (Anti-VEGF) drugs

The drugs stop the new abnormal blood vessels from forming

  • There is currently no cure for AMD, and treatment efforts are directed at maintaining useful central vision for as long as possible.
  • Your suitability for treatment depends on the type of AMD (wet or dry) and individual characteristics of the condition.

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.
Intravitreal injections

Advantages

Treatment with intraocular injections is effective.

The injection time is very short, lasting about 1 minute, and the sensation felt by the patient is minimal.

Disadvantages

Common side-effects include discomfort during and after injection, bruising of the white of the eye, an increase in the eye pressure and moving black dots in your vision.

Laser treatments

Advantages

Laser treatment can reduce the risk of the additional vision loss that would occur with the progression of wet AMD.

Disadvantages

There is also a small risk that the blood vessels may grow back and the surgery or another treatment will have to be redone.
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During laser photocoagulation, we burn away part of the macula. This can result in some additional vision loss. You might have a blind spot where the laser creates a scar. In some cases, this vision loss might be worse than the potential vision loss from not treating the eye. This is something to think about when planning to have the surgery.

Intravitreal injections risks

Each injection, regardless of the drug injected carries a 1:1000 risk of a complication, which may severely permanently reduce the sight in the eye injected. The most serious risks are:

Infection inside the eye

Blockage of the main artery to the eye

Other rare but serious complications include:

  • Bleeding inside the eye
  • Damage to the lens in the eye
  • Immune reaction to the drug known as immunogenicity
  • Inflammation in the eye
  • Retinal detachment
  • Retinal tear

These are all treatable but can compromise the vision in that eye.

Laser treatment risks
  • Accidental impact on the central macula, which causes a large blind spot
  • Bleeding into the eye
  • Damage to the retina from the laser scar, immediately or years later

Treatment options and alternatives for macular degeneration depend on the type of AMD and individual characteristics of the condition. We will recommend the best treatment for you at your initial assessment.

Intravitreal injections steps
  • Step 1: We will provide you with some local anaesthetic in the form of drops or gel.
  • Step 2: We will then insert a fine needle through the white part of your eye (sclera) and inject the anti-VEGF into the jelly in the centre part of your eye. The injection usually takes about 30 seconds.
Laser treatment
  • Step 1: We will provide you with some local anaesthetic in the form of eyedrops.
  • Step 2: Using a laser, we will focus a light beam onto your eye and seal abnormal, leaky vessels under the retina.
Wet macular degeneration treatment results

Treatment stops vision worsening in 9 out of 10 people and improves vision in 3 out of 10 people.

Dry macular degeneration treatment results

If your condition is diagnosed early, we can slow its progression through:

  • Regular checks
  • The taking of nutritional supplements
  • Early intervention in case of a transition to wet AMD

Have you been diagnosed with a concerning eye problem?

If you’ve been diagnosed with any of these eye conditions and are either seeking treatment or a second opinion, we’d be glad to help

  • Dry eye
  • Glaucoma
  • Macular degeneration
  • Keratoconus
  • Short-sightedness
  • Long-sightedness
  • Astigmatism
  • Presbyopia
  • Cataracts
Get in touch to understand how your insurance can help cover your treatment

Have a concerning eye problem? Get help from us in 3 steps

If you have an issue with one or both of your eyes and would like to seek our help, follow these steps to get the help you need

Get In Touch

Start by giving us a call on 01 3617227. We’ll ask you some questions on the phone to see if we should invite you to visit.

We’ll Meet

At your consultation, we’ll examine your eyes and share our diagnosis. Then, we’ll answer all your questions about your eye condition and possible treatment.

Get on the right path

Some patients need treatment, others can manage their eye problems with lifestyle changes. Either way, we’ll help guide you towards the best resolution for your eye condition.