Treatment Evolution in Wet AMD

Prompt treatment is critical to slow the progression of wet macular degeneration (wet AMD), a condition that can lead to severe vision loss.

Over the past few decades, treatment options for wet AMD have advanced and treatment is now more effective¹. Treatment with an anti-VEGF is now the standard of care for wet macular degeneration¹. 

Pre-1980: No Treatment

Rapid and progressive vision loss.

Early 1990s: Thermal Laser

Thermal laser treatments had high rates of vision loss and recurring disease, and were not an option for all patients².

Early 2000s: Photodynamic Therapy

Slowed the progression of vision loss, but vision did not improve in a majority of patients³.

2000-present: Anti-VEGF treatment 

Anti-VEGF treatments have reduced the incidence of legal blindness and severe vision loss in wet macular degeneration patients^4,5.
 

For more information about anti-VEGF treatment, click here.

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References

¹Gehrs KM, Anderson DH, Johnson LV, and Hageman GS. Age-related macular degeneration—emerging pathogenetic and therapeutic concepts. Ann Med. 2006;38:450-471.​

²Kent C. Rev Ophthalmol 2009. Available at: https://www.reviewofophthalmology.com/article/macular-degeneration-is-laser-still-relevant ​

³Brown DM, et al. Ranibizumab versus verteporfin photodynamic therapy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration: two year results of the ANCHOR study. Ophthalmology 2009;116:57-65.​

⁴Freund KB, et al. An update on the pharmacotherapy of neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2013;14:1017-1028.​

⁵Holz FG, et al. Recent developments in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration. J Clin Invest. 2014;124:1430-1438.