Retina: A sight concern
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Kelly Rissman
US News Reporter
Having lost the sight in one eye when I was 17, due to a detached retina, I am concerned about the sight in my other eye. Early this year, I was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in that eye and referred to hospital, where I had scans but no treatment. Finally, I was referred to a specialist who did another scan. He suggested an injection into the eye, but said there was no guarantee it would work, and I could lose my sight altogether.
Dr Fred Kavalier answers your health question:
Age-related macular degeneration gradually destroys vision in the central part of the retina (the macula), responsible for sharp vision. AMD comes in two forms wet and dry. Some treatments are available for wet AMD, but there is currently no effective treatment for dry AMD. People who are developing wet AMD sometimes notice that straight lines appear wavy. One of the first symptoms of dry AMD is slightly blurred vision. The newest, and probably best treatment for wet AMD is a drug that is injected into the eye to stop the development of new fragile blood vessels, the cause of visual loss. The new treatments are not widely available on the NHS, but the RNIB is campaigning to change this. To find out more, see www.rnib.org.uk.
Please mail your questions for Dr Fred to health@independent.co.uk. He regrets that he is unable to respond personally to questions.
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