Living with macular degeneration

Good information, Alison!

The treatments for wet AMD are aimed at stopping the growth of new blood vessels, but they have indeed resulted in improved vision for some people. These improvements are seen in people who receive treatment soon after an episode of leakage that caused the drop in vision.

It can take three or four treatments before your retinal specialist can tell if the treatment is working. The specialized photos taken in the office can tell the doctor if the injections are having an effect. The treatment may be working during this time, but you may or may not notice a change in your vision.

These treatments (with Lucentis or Avastin) are the standard of care for wet AMD and have proven to be effective in the majority of patients.

Welcome to EmpowHER!

If you are interested in talking with other women who are living with AMD, you can start your own group at EmpowHER by clicking here: https://www.empowher.com/condition/adult-macular-degeneration/community (click on "Start a Group Now").

Another option is to join an existing support group through the MD Support group at: http://www.mdsupport.org/support.html.

Regarding your question about treatment success, according to the EmpowHER AMD Encyclopedia, "About 1/3 of patients will show significant improvement in vision [after injections]. This is the first treatments to show improved vision in a significant number of patients."

You may also find these articles and resources helpful:
- Expert VIDEO: How is MD treated?
- National Eye Institute, National Institute of Health (NIH): Macular Degeneration