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Photodynamic
(Visudyne) Treatment for Age Related Macular Degeneration
(AMD)
Wet macular degeneration is as a result of abnormal blood
vessels beneath the retina.
These blood vessels leak and cause swelling of the retina
which results in visual disturbances such as visual distortion
- straight line may appear wavy or, loss of vision -this
occurs in the centre of the visual field. Occasionally
these blood vessels may also rupture and result in a hemorrhage
beneath the retina resulting in a very rapid decline in
vision.
Visudyne is a special dye that is injected into the blood
stream through a peripheral vein.
This dye then preferentially accumulates in the abnormal
blood vessels beneath the retina. A few minutes following
the injection, a laser is directed at the centre of the
eye and this laser energy is then taken up by the dye
resulting in blockage of these blood vessels and hopefully
their disappearance.
The process can be arrested and result in stabilization
of vision, therefore arresting a further decline in vision,
very occasionally, vision may actually improve.Unfortunately
the MAJORITY of patients will continue to experience a
decline in vision.
Most patients will require more than one treatment, the
average number being three -usually these treatments are
about three months apart-depending on the response to
treatment
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procedure takes about 30 minutes but you may require
a flourescein angiogram first - this procedure also
involves the injection of dye through a vein in
your arm.Pictures are then taken of the retina to
determine if the type of macular degeneration you
have is treatable and by what method. |
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Unfortunately
the majority of patients with macular degeneration are
not treatable as the changes in the retina are as a result
of loss of tissue rather than leaking blood vessels -
there is no effective treatment for this condition but
multivitamin supplementation has been shown to slow down
the process in a minority of patients. Vitalux has been
used in this setting but other multivitamins are also
effective. Vitamin supplementation should also be used
for patients with the wet form of macular degeneration.
Visudyne absorbs energy from sunlight and you should therefore
wear sunglasses and keep out the sun for 48hrs following
the treatment.
Occasionally some of the dye may leak into the skin upon
injection, should this occur the area must be covered
for a more prolonged period to prevent exposure to sunlight
and ultimate skin damage.
Another rare side effect is low back pain at the time
of injection but this only lasts a few minutes.
Finally, a small percentage of patients will suffer irreversible
loss of central vision with photodynamic treatment.
The procedure as well as the flourescein angiogram is
performed at the Royal Inland Hospital, you should plan
on spending 1- 3 hours there depending on your situation.
Peter
Hopp MD.
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Interior Retina, Kamloops, B.C.,
Canada, Dr. Peter Hopp, argon laser treatments for diabetic retinopathy,
branch retinal vein occlusions, clinically significant macular edema,
central serous retinopathy, lattice degeneration, macular edema
and retinal tears, retinal detachments, vitreous hemorrhages, dropped
nucleuses, macular holes
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laser treatment of the retina,
laser treatment for glaucoma, laser treatment for diabetic eye disease,
laser treatment for certain types of macular degeneration,surgery
for cataracts, retinal detachment, macular hole, epiretinal membrane,
diabetic retinal disease,vitreous hemorrhages, chalazion excision,
entropion, other miscellaneous retinal and vitreous disorders
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Interior Retina, Kamloops, B.C.,
Canada, Dr. Peter Hopp, argon laser treatments for diabetic retinopathy,
branch retinal vein occlusions, clinically significant macular edema,
central serous retinopathy, lattice degeneration, macular edema
and retinal tears, retinal detachments, vitreous hemorrhages, dropped
nucleuses, macular holes
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Interior Retina provides treatment
and management of glaucoma, iritis, scleritis, vein/artery occlusions,
diabetic eye diseases, corneal abrasions, double vision, floaters,
optic neuritis, uveitis and after-cataracts.
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