Macular Degeneration

Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School

Macular Degeneration

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Question:

Is there a cure for macular degeneration? If not, what can I do to prevent it from getting worse? Will my children get it? What causes it in the first place? Could I have prevented it by doing something earlier in life? (I am 78.)

Answer:

The answer very much depends on what type of macular degeneration you have.

The "dry" form is usually milder. It can be helped at a very specific stage by the AREDS vitamin supplement formula and fish oil.

The "wet" form is usually more disabling. It does have some treatment options using injections into the eye.

The cause of the condition is unknown. Smoking is the biggest risk factor. So if you smoke, you should stop.

There is a slightly higher risk of getting macular degeneration if one parent has it.

Usually, if age-related macular degeneration is severe enough, a retina specialist manages the care. It sounds like you need to see one.

Don Bienfang, M.D, is an assistant professor of ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School and the Senior Surgeon in the Department of Surgery and Chief of Neuro-Ophthalmology in the Department of Neurology at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

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Last updated:	July 20, 2009

Medical content reviewed by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School. Harvard Health Publications, Copyright © 2007 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Used with permission of StayWell.

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