Treating Dry Amd - Age Related Macular Degeneration Amd: Eye Care
Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School
Treating dry AMD
Once it reaches the advanced stage, it is not possible to stop vision loss caused by dry AMD. And currently no treatment exists for the early stages of this disorder. But the federally funded Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) found that high doses of particular supplements can slow (and sometimes even prevent) progression from intermediate to advanced AMD, thereby preserving vision in many people (see "Preventing and slowing AMD").
Research continues in an effort to find new options. For example, the Complications of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Prevention trial, sponsored by the National Eye Institute, is evaluating whether treating drusen with a low-intensity laser can prevent future complications and preserve vision in people with dry AMD.
Because dry AMD progresses very slowly, people are usually able to manage quite well in their daily routines even with some central vision loss. If the condition worsens, special low-vision aids — such as magnifying lenses or closed-circuit televisions that "read" regular print and then enlarge it on a monitor — can help maintain quality of life (see "Living with low vision").
| Last updated: | June 19, 2007 |
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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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