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What is difference between Dry Macular Degeneration vs. Wet Macular Degeneration?

Macular Degeneration - Bodybuilding Supplements, Diet Pills,...
Dry Macular Degeneration is the less severe type of Macular Degeneration. In Dry Macular Degeneration the central retina has become distorted, pigmented, or most commonly thinned. The "wet" form of macular degeneration is a worse disease. Patients with wet macular degeneration can develop abnormal blood vessels under their retina which can leak and bleed into the macula.
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What are wet and dry macular degeneration?

Macular Degeneration - Frequently Asked Questions
There are two forms of age-related macular degeneration (AMD): dry and wet. It is possible for a person to suffer from both forms and AMD can affect one or both eyes. The rate at which the disease progresses varies greatly. Dry AMD may advance and cause loss of vision without turning into the wet form of the disease. However, it is also possible for early-stage dry AMD to suddenly change into the wet form of the disease.
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What are dry and wet macular degeneration?

FAQ
About 85 - 90% of ARMD cases are the dry, or atrophic, form, in which yellowish spots of fatty deposits called drusen appear on the macula. The rest of ARMD cases are the wet form, so called because of leakage into the retina from newly forming blood vessels in the choroid, a part of the eye behind the retina. Normally, blood vessels in the choroid bring nutrients to, and carry waste products away from, the retina.
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Do wet and dry macular degeneration have early, intermediate and advanced forms?

Macular Degeneration - Frequently Asked Questions
All wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is considered advanced; however, the dry form of AMD has three stages: Early Dry AMD - patients have several small drusen or a few medium-sized drusen. There is no vision loss or symptoms at this stage. Intermediate Dry AMD - patients have many medium-sized drusen or one or more large drusen. Some people may need more light for tasks such as reading. A blurry spot may appear in the center of the visual field.
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middot; Can advanced macular degeneration be either the dry form or the wet form?

Macular Degeneration (MacDegen.com) :: MacDegen.com is dedic...
There are two types of advanced macular degeneration: geographic atrophy and the wet form. The early form of dry macular degeneration can convert to either of these two types. Patients who have the advanced form in one eye have a high risk for developing the advanced form in the other eye.
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Who can contract wet macular degeneration?

Wet Macular Degeneration: VisiVite.com
Wet AMD is common in individuals over sixty years old, but can also occur in people as young as forty-years old. Macular degeneration is also the most common cause of vision loss in people over 65. Scientists believe that hereditary may also contribute to wet macular degeneration.
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middot; What is wet macular degeneration?

Macular Degeneration (MacDegen.com) :: MacDegen.com is dedic...
Wet macular degeneration is diagnosed when either blood or fluid is present. They originate from a new blood vessel that grows at the back of the eye, which is fragile and can bleed. Researchers do not know exactly why new blood vessels arise. The bleeding, the fluid or the vessels themselves can block light rays from reaching the back of the eye or they can interfere with photoreceptor or RPE function.
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middot; What is dry macular degeneration?

Macular Degeneration (MacDegen.com) :: MacDegen.com is dedic...
Macular degeneration is a disease of the deeper retinal layers, affecting the photoreceptors, the RPE cells, Bruch's membrane and the choroid. The dry form occurs when the light-sensitive cells in the macula slowly break down, gradually blurring central vision in the affected eye. As it gets worse, you may see a blurred spot in the center of your vision. As less of the macula functions, you gradually lose central vision in the affected eye.
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Are other treatments in development for the wet form of macular degeneration?

Frequently Asked Questions - Aging Eye .com
New, experimental laser therapy called transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) slowly delivers heat to abnormal retinal blood vessels and eradicates them - hopefully, without damaging the surrounding tissues. TTT is being studied in patients who have been the hardest to treat because of difficult-to-see blood vessels.
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What is wet macular degeneration?

RetinaFAQ: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center - Boston, Ho...
The moment abnormal new blood vessels grow under the retina the diagnosis changes to wet macular degeneration. These abnormal vessels typically leak fluid and blood under the retina disturbing macular or central visual function as described above.
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middot; How is wet macular degeneration treated?

Macular Degeneration (MacDegen.com) :: MacDegen.com is dedic...
Many other treatments have been used to treat wet macular degeneration in the past. They include submacular surgery (an incision is made in the retina and the new blood vessel is surgically removed), interferon treatment and low-dose radiation. These treatments either have proven to be of little benefit in large clinical trials or have not been generally accepted by the vast majority of retinal specialists.
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middot; What can I do to protect my vision if I have wet macular degeneration?

Macular Degeneration (MacDegen.com) :: MacDegen.com is dedic...
If you have new distortion, central haziness or blurring you may have wet macular degeneration. If your doctor advises treatment with either laser or PDT, do not wait, because you may lose further vision. After laser surgery or PDT, you will likely need frequent eye examinations to detect any recurrence of leaking blood vessels. In addition, check your vision at home with the Amsler grid. If you detect any changes in this grid, schedule an eye examination immediately.
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What are my treatment options for "wet" macular degeneration?

Frequently Asked Questions About AMD
Photodynamic therapy with Visudyne. Visudyne therapy, a form of photodynamic therapy, brings together a light-activated drug (Visudyne) and the use of a non-thermal ("cold") laser. The laser activates the drug in a targeted area of the eye, producing a reaction that destroys abnormal, leaky blood vessels. Patients diagnosed with a certain form of wet AMD may be candidates for Visudyne therapy, an FDA-approved form of photodynamic therapy for the eyes. Other treatment options.
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What is dry macular degeneration?

RetinaFAQ: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center - Boston, Ho...
Fatty deposits called drusen may develop under the macula. Medium or large drusen in the macula are diagnostic of dry macular degeneration.
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middot; What are the stages of dry macular degeneration?

Macular Degeneration (MacDegen.com) :: MacDegen.com is dedic...
Early stage. People with early macular degeneration have either several small drusen or a few medium-sized drusen. At this stage, there are generally no symptoms and no vision loss. Intermediate stage. People with intermediate macular degeneration have either many medium-sized drusen or one or more large drusen. Some people see a blurred spot or central haziness in the center of their vision. Advanced stage.
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middot; How is dry macular degeneration treated?

Macular Degeneration (MacDegen.com) :: MacDegen.com is dedic...
If you have early macular degeneration, you likely do not need treatment, as the risk of progressing to the more advanced type is minimal. You should, however, periodically check for any changes on an Amsler grid. If changes are noted, seek medical attention right away. If you have intermediate macular degeneration, your doctor will likely put you on high doses of vitamins.
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middot; What can I do to protect my vision if I have dry macular degeneration?

Macular Degeneration (MacDegen.com) :: MacDegen.com is dedic...
If you have dry macular degeneration, you should have a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year. Your eye-care professional can monitor your condition and check for other eye diseases. If he or she tells you that you have the intermediate stage of dry macular degeneration in one or both eyes or advanced macular degeneration in one eye only, AREDS-strength vitamins will likely be prescribed.
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I have the dry (slow) form of macular degeneration, what can I do?

Frequently Asked Questions
Well, there are a few things that you can do. First, you can cut out antacids; they have been shown to decrease digestion. Then you can try to add a regimen of vitamins including 500mg DHA and Able Eyes. For more information of AMD please check out the AMD portion of my website or chapter 8 of my book, The Eye Care Revolution (Kensington 1999). A good way to protect yourself from many anomalies is to regularly wear sunglasses even on cloudy days.
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What are the treatment options for "dry" macular degeneration?

Frequently Asked Questions About AMD
In 2001, the National Eye Institute-funded Age Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) showed that high levels of certain antioxidants and zinc can help prevent vision loss in people at high risk of developing advanced AMD. Today there are a number of vitamin supplements on the market specially formulated to promote eye health and help prevent vision loss due to AMD and other diseases.
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What is macular degeneration?

Macula Vision Research Foundation: FAQ
Pathologic condition (altered or caused by a disease or abnormal function) Group of conditions that include deterioration of the macula, resulting in loss of sharp central vision. Hereditary types can occur in any age group.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Macular degeneration is the physical disturbance of the center of the retina called the macula. The macula, which is about the size of the capital letter " O" in this sentence, is the part of the retina, which is capable of our most acute and detailed vision. It is also the location of most of our color receptors. We use the macula for reading, driving, recognizing faces, watching television, and fine work.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Macular Degeneration is a blinding disease which causes the death of cells in the light-sensitive portion of the eye called the retina. These cells, called photoreceptor cells, are most severely affected in a specialized region of the retina called the macula, thus the name Macular Degeneration.
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FAQ
In macular degeneration, the light-sensing cells of the macula mysteriously malfunction and may over time cease to work. Macular degeneration occurs most often in people over 60 years old, in which case it is called Age Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD). Much less common are several hereditary forms of macular degeneration, which usually affect children or teen-agers. Collectively, they are called Juvenile Macular Degeneration.
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Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) | LASIK Mountain View...
Macular degeneration is damage to the central part of the retina called the macula. The macula is a small area of the retina that allows us to see fine details clearly. When the macula doesn't function correctly, we experience blurriness or distortion in the center of our vision. Macular degeneration affects both distance and close vision, and can make some activities - like threading a needle or reading - difficult or impossible.
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Will the drug Lucentis, used to treat wet macular degeneration, work with PXE?

PXE International - Eye Treatments and Procedures
Lucentis is another anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) drug designed to inhibit a growth factor that operates on blood vessels. It is injected into the eye every four weeks. Lucentis was approved for treatment of AMD by the FDA on June 30, 2006, after Genentech, the manufacturer, reported on May 23, 2005 that Lucentis either maintained or improved vision in 95% of patients with wet AMD participating in the Phase III trial.
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Can the "Wet" Form of Macular Degeneration be Treated?

Macular Degeneration Index
Yes. Some people with the "wet" form of ARMD have benefited from this treatment, and we are currently treating both the wet and dry forms of macular degeneration. The damage caused to the retina by the exudates and bleeding can be so severe that the retina is permanently damaged, and if you have had laser procedures, there will be areas of permanent scarring in your retina.
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