How is ARMD treated?

Early AMD

Currently, no treatment exists for early ARMD, which in many people shows no symptoms or loss of vision. Your ophthalmologist may recommend that you get a comprehensive eye check-up at least once a year.
ARMD occurs less often in people who have a healthy lifestyle with diet rich in green leafy vegetables and fish. If you already have ARMD, adopting some of these habits delays the progression.

Intermediate and late AMD

The Age-Related Eye Disease Studies (AREDS and AREDS2). found that daily intake of certain high-dose vitamins and minerals slows progression of the disease in people who have intermediate ARMD, and those who have late ARMD in one eye.
The following are the recommended doses of vitamins and minerals

  • 500 milligrams (mg) of vitamin C
  • 400 international units of vitamin E
  • 80 mg zinc as zinc oxide
  • 2 mg copper as cupric oxide
  • 10 mg lutein and 2 mg zeaxanthin

It is important to note that many supplements have different ingredients, or different doses, from those tested in the AREDS trials,  so do consult your ophthalmologist about which supplement, if any, is right for you. It is important to remember that the AREDS formulation is not a cure. It does not help people with early AMD, and will not restore vision already lost from AMD. But it may delay the onset of late AMD. It also may help slow vision loss in people who already have late AMD.

Advanced neovascular ARMD

Neovascular ARMD typically results in severe vision loss. However, ophthalmologists can try different therapies to stop further vision loss. You should remember that the therapies described below are not a cure. The condition may progress even with treatment.

  • Injections. One option to slow the progression of neovascular ARMD is to inject drugs into the eye. With neovascular ARMD, abnormally high levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are secreted in your eyes. VEGF is a protein that promotes the growth of new abnormal blood vessels. Anti-VEGF injection therapy blocks this growth. This treatment may require multiple injections.
  • Photodynamic therapy. This technique involves laser treatment of select areas of the retina. This procedure is less common than anti-VEGF injections, and is often used in combination with them for specific types of neovascular ARMD.