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Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

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What is the problem? Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease that causes loss of vision over a period of time. It is a disease that comes on slowly and therefore a lot of times it is just associated as being due to old age. When this disease takes full effect sufferers can lose a large amount of central vision however they usually retain their peripheral vision. Why is it a problem? Age related macular degeneration is becoming more frequently occurring in the UK, according to an article from the Daily Express based on research that estimates the number of people affected by age related macular degeneration. It is believed that half of the 370,000 people registered as blind in the UK are thought to be affected by AMD. In 2012, 2.4% …show more content…

As it is the part of the eye that is responsible for central vision, sufferers therefore lose their ability to use their central vision. There are two types of AMD; Dry AMD and Wet AMD. Dry AMD develops when there is a build-up of waste products called drusen. A build-up of these waste products result in the damage of light cells of the macular leaving you with blurry central vision. Wet AMD however is a more severe case of AMD which develops due to abnormal blood vessels growing under the macular, believed to be caused because of a misguided attempt to clear the waste products. They damage the macular as they can leak blood and therefore leave scarring. Dry AMD sufferers can lose vision gradually; Wet AMD sufferers can lose vision within a couple of days if not treated. …show more content…

Compared to the small percentage of 5.6% it is clear that Ranibizumab works according to this particular investigation from the ANCHOR study. The visual acuity of 20/40 or above was recorded more in the results of the patients of those who received the treatment of Ranibizumab. It is also stated that a much smaller proportion had visually acuity of 20/200 or worse. 13.3% of patients in the verteporfin group experienced a severe loss of vision, whereas the Ranibizumab group had no patients experiencing severe loss of vision, this is shown in the graphs (previous page)

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