Moist macular degeneration

Introduction – Moist macular degeneration

The wet macular degeneration is the rarer of the two age-associated diseases of the macula (yellow spot), 10 to 15 percent. In the course of the disease the wet macular disease is much more aggressive. At the wet macular degeneration “pathologically” new blood vessels grow from the choroid into the macula or fovea (place of sharpest vision) which leads to bleeding and water retention (edema).

How common is a wet macular degeneration?

In Germany alone more than 4 million people fell ill with macular degeneration in 2008. According to UN estimates the number of patients worldwide is about 25 to 30 million. Nevertheless only 14 percent of the Germans can imagine something under the term macular degeneration and assign it to an eye disease.

  • About 20 percent of the 65 to 74-year-olds and
  • About 35 percent of the 75- to 84-year-old have the dry form of macular degeneration and
  • 10 to 15 percent have the wet form of macular degeneration. 50. 000 patients fall ill with age-related macular degeneration approximately every year.

Often a fast and lasting loss of visual acuity is caused by the wet macular degeneration.

In the early stages there is a distortion of straight lines (tile joints, window crossings) during vision. In the middle of the text to be read grey shadows, distortions or a blurred spot can be seen. Often this is accompanied by a disturbance of color perception, while black and white vision remains unaffected.

If bleeding occurs, there is usually a sudden loss of the ability to read and there is a central visual field loss (central scotoma). From the age of 60, appropriate check-ups at the ophthalmologist are recommended. In order to check even the eyes from time to time for a wet macular degeneration, the Amsler grid can be used as a test.

In order to be able to recognize and treat a possible glaucoma at an early stage, a regular check of the eyes should take place from 40 years on. In order to delay or stop the progress of the degenerative changes of the wet macular degeneration or to cure existing changes, a drug is injected into the eye (intravitreal injection) according to a newly developed treatment recommendation. The drug contained in it can push back the newly formed blood vessels and thus stabilize an existing disease (i.e. make the macula dry again) or even improve it.

Usually, this treatment will have to be performed several times at intervals of 6 weeks as an outpatient. The main risk factors for age-related macular degeneration are The disease increases strongly with age, often after the age of 60. Due to the overall higher life expectancy of women age-related macular degeneration occurs more often in women than in men.

  • Smoking,
  • Exposure of the eyes to light and UV radiation and
  • High blood pressure.
  • Genetic predisposition (heredity) also plays a role.

Apart from the above-mentioned risk factors such as overweight and smoking, one or the other habit should also be checked in everyday life:

  • Longer screen work
  • Long television
  • Handicrafts
  • Very long

Moist age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can be alleviated by injecting growth inhibitors (so-called VEGF antagonists) into the inside of the eye. These drugs are then able to inhibit the growth of vessels into the macula. While in the past procedures like photodynamic therapy or laser, which is only suitable for a few patients, were used for wet macular degeneration, these are nowadays hardly used in therapy. A loss of vision can be stopped or at least slowed down with the VEGF antagonists.