100 Questions & Answers About Macular Degeneration

Title......Page 2
Copyright......Page 3
Dedication......Page 4
Contents......Page 6
Foreword......Page 8
Introduction......Page 10
Patient Biography......Page 14
Acknowledgments......Page 16
Part One: Background: What Is It, Where Is It, and Who Has It?......Page 18
1. What is age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?......Page 19
2. What is the retina?......Page 20
4. How many people have age-related macular degeneration in the United States?......Page 21
5. Is age-related macular degeneration truly age related? If so, at what age should we be concerned?......Page 22
7. What is a cataract, and how can I tell the difference between macular degeneration and my cataract?......Page 23
8. Can cataract surgery affect my age-related macular degeneration?......Page 24
9. Will I go blind from macular degeneration?......Page 25
11. What is meant by a vision of 20/20 or 20/200?......Page 26
13. What is a low vision specialist, and how can he or she help me?......Page 28
14. How do I qualify for help from my state’s Commission for the Blind?......Page 30
15. Are there online sources that can help me?......Page 31
16. Is there an association between macular degeneration and depression?......Page 32
Part Two: Risk Factors and Causes......Page 34
17. What are the risk factors for age-related macular degeneration?......Page 35
18. What causes macular degeneration?......Page 36
20. Is smoking a risk factor for macular degeneration?......Page 37
22. I have a family history of macular degeneration. Is there anything I can do to avoid getting it myself?......Page 38
23. Both of my parents have macular degeneration. Does this mean I will have it also?......Page 39
24. Is it possible to modify the risk factors for age-related macular degeneration?......Page 40
25. I also have cataracts. Are age-related macular degeneration and cataracts related?......Page 41
Part Three: Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration: What Is It, How Can I Recognize It, and What Can I Do About It?......Page 42
26. What is dry macular degeneration?......Page 43
27. How is dry macular degeneration diagnosed?......Page 44
29. What are the early symptoms of dry macular degeneration?......Page 46
31. Why do my eyes have to be dilated at my regular follow-ups?......Page 47
32. Will changing my glasses help improve my vision?......Page 48
34. How fast does dry macular degeneration progress?......Page 49
35. How can I monitor my macular degeneration?......Page 50
36. What is an Amsler grid?......Page 51
37. My doctor told me I have dry macular degeneration, but my eyes are always tearing. Does this mean I actually have wet macular degeneration?......Page 53
38. Are there treatments for dry macular degeneration?......Page 54
Part Four: Vitamin Supplements and Diet......Page 56
39. I often hear of the AREDS study or formulation. What is the AREDS formulation?......Page 57
41. Are vitamin supplements recommended for all patients with age-related macular degeneration? Even if they aren’t recommended for my stage of macular degeneration, will it hurt me to take them?......Page 58
42. Do vitamins reverse dry macular degeneration?......Page 59
44. Do I need a prescription for AREDS supplements?......Page 60
46. Does eating green leafy vegetables help reduce macular degeneration?......Page 61
47. Does eating fish help reduce macular degeneration?......Page 62
48. Do bilberries, blueberries, or various nutritional supplements help with macular degeneration?......Page 63
Part Five: Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration: What Is It, How Will I Know if I Have It, Can It Be Treated?......Page 64
49. What is wet macular degeneration?......Page 65
50. What are the symptoms of wet macular degeneration?......Page 67
51. How is wet macular degeneration diagnosed?......Page 69
52. What is a fluorescein angiogram?......Page 70
53. Are there any risks or side effects of fluorescein angiography?......Page 71
54. What is optical coherence tomography (OCT)?......Page 72
56. Why do the lines appear wavy or crooked from wet macular degeneration?......Page 73
57. Why are some letters missing when I try to read?......Page 74
58. What does fluid in the retina mean? Is that the same as bleeding?......Page 75
59. What is vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)?......Page 78
60. I have diabetes. Is macular degeneration related to my diabetes? Will it affect my diabetes?......Page 79
62. What causes scarring of the retina?......Page 81
Part Six: Treatment for Wet Macular Degeneration: New Therapies, Similarities and Differences, Risks and Benefits......Page 84
64. Will Lucentis or Avastin injections help my vision improve?......Page 85
65. What is the difference between Lucentis and Avastin?......Page 87
67. Why are treatments for wet macular degeneration often derived from cancer therapies?......Page 88
68. What percentage of patients respond well to Lucentis?......Page 89
69. What percentage of patients respond well to Avastin?......Page 90
70. Are Avastin and Lucentis the only anti-VEGF treatments used in wet macular degeneration?......Page 91
71. I am not experiencing any vision loss now, but my retina specialist is recommending treatment for my recently diagnosed wet macular degeneration. Do I need to have treatment right away?......Page 92
72. I developed wet macular degeneration several years ago and was very excited to learn about the new treatments for it; however, when I contacted my doctor, he informed me that it was unlikely that these treatments would help me. Why is this so?......Page 93
74. If I don’t have insurance, how can I possibly afford to pay for treatments of wet macular degeneration?......Page 94
75. Does wet macular degeneration recur? If so, how often?......Page 95
76. What happens if I stop responding to the treatments?......Page 96
77. What happens if I elect not to have treatment for exudative macular degeneration? What happens if I elect to discontinue therapy for wet macular degeneration?......Page 97
78. I have heard that patients with a history of stroke or cardiac disease should not get the injections. Can the injection cause a stroke or heart attack?......Page 98
Part Seven: Intravitreal Injections: How Are They Given, Do They Hurt, and What Should I Worry About?......Page 100
80. How many injections will I need?......Page 101
81. Do the injections hurt?......Page 103
83. Should I stop taking aspirin before the injection?......Page 104
85. What precautions should I follow after an injection?......Page 105
86. I’m afraid of getting injections in the eye. Is there a pill I can take instead?......Page 106
Part Eight: Other Treatments: Cold Lasers, Combination Therapies, Future Possibilities......Page 108
87. Are there therapies other than anti-VEGF therapy that are approved for the treatment of wet macular degeneration?......Page 109
88. Is there ever a role for laser in the treatment of wet macular degeneration?......Page 110
90. Are therapies ever combined in the treatment of wet macular degeneration?......Page 111
91. Steroids are used to treat so many medical conditions. Can they be used for age-related macular degeneration?......Page 112
92. Considering that many cancer therapies have led to macular degeneration treatments, can radiation therapy be used for macular degeneration?......Page 113
93. I know that Lucentis was discovered through an extensive research program. Is there ongoing research with regard to macular degeneration?......Page 115
94. I often hear of research trials described in phases, such as phase I, II, III, or IV. What do the different phases mean, and how do they apply to clinical research?......Page 118
95. My doctor asked me to participate in a clinical trial. Why should I be a guinea pig?......Page 120
96. How do I know if a clinical trial is safe?......Page 121
98. Can acupuncture help my macular degeneration?......Page 122
99. What has genetic research revealed about macular degeneration?......Page 123
100. Will genetic testing help me to prevent macular degeneration from occurring or progressing, or allow me to get treated earlier?......Page 124
Glossary......Page 126
Index......Page 132