This week we wanted to talk about a specific form of Macular Degeneration called Dry Macular Degeneration. This is a common condition but often not discussed so for some folks it remains a mystery.
What is Dry Macular Degeneration?
In some patients, cells in the center of the retina can slowly die. This can cause central and progressive vision loss.
What are risk factors for dry macular degeneration?
Family history, smoking, hypertension, and blue eyes are risk factors for dry macular degeneration.
How do you monitor dry macular degeneration?
Dilated eye exams with retinal scanning every 6 months, and a weekly home check with an Amsler grid are good ways to monitor macular degeneration. If there are any changes, further evaluation can be done in office with OCT angiography and autofluorescence.
What are options for treatment of dry macular degeneration?
For patients with dry AMD (not wet AMD or geographic atrophy), we offer nutritional supplements and photobiomodulation light therapy using the Valeda technology to help improve retinal cell health, slow progression of dry AMD, and improve vision in the majority of patients with dry AMD.
Explain a little bit more about light therapy for dry macular degeneration
We recently acquired the Lumithera Valeda light delivery system. It is the first FDA approved treatment for dry macular degeneration. It uses yellow and red light to promote cellular activity in the retina and has been shown to reduce drusen (areas of dead cellular debris under the retina) and improve vision. It requires multiple treatments over the course of 1 to 2 years for maximum efficacy, but recent studies show visual benefit out to 4.5 years after treatment initiation. It is an office procedure that takes about 7 minutes per treatment, and there are no eyedrops, dilation, or activity restrictions required. Drs. Jernberg, Bautista, and Lorenzen all offer the Valeda light treatment for patients with dry macular degeneration. It is not to be used in patients with wet macular degeneration or seizure disorder.
