AMD: new developments in treatment

One of the senses that suffers most with the passage of time is the view. After 50 years, and to a greater extent after 65, our eyes are more susceptible to suffering a degenerative disease of the center of the retina called DMAE ( Macular Degeneration Associated with Age ). There are many subtypes, but basically there are two major forms of AMD: the wet or exudative and the dry or atrophic.. In most cases of severe vision loss is due to wet forms, in which hemorrhages and effusions occur within the layers of the retina, in the macula, that is, in the center of the visual field. However, in advanced stages, both produce blindness in the center of vision, the most necessary for daily life. This is the precise vision needed to be able to read, identify a face, drive, etc.

Detection and treatment

Thanks to the research carried out in many centers during the last 20 years, we have achieved molecules that, injected intraocularly, have allowed to change the unfortunate prognosis that had the wet forms of the disease until now. However, there is still much debate about which is the best treatment regimen.

In our center we have been researching all these drugs for many years and the best way to administer them, through individualized guidelines, to achieve the maximum visual improvement. Our mission is not only to ensure that patients gain vision or, at least not lose it, but that it can be maintained over time. The atrophic form of AMD , however, remains untreated. In these moments, together with the degenerative diseases of the retina , it is our pending subject and our biggest challenge. At the Institut de la Màcula i de la Retina we have been dedicated to the investigation of these diseases for years and have been able to test new drugs in clinical trials in Phase I in our country.. Currently, we are developing different lines of research to get effective treatment as soon as possible.

* This article was published in number 2 of TheDoctors Magazine, the month of October 2012.