Eye disorders and treatments

→ age-related macular degeneration
→ diabetic retinopathy
→ epiretinal membrane
→ flashes and floaters
→ macular hole
→ ocular trauma
→ retinal artery occlusion
→ retinal tears and retinal detachment
→ retinal vein occlusion

Treatments

Treatment options for dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) have expanded significantly in recent years. While there is currently no cure for dry AMD, we now have options that may help slow disease progression and preserve vision.

Depending on the type and stage of dry AMD, treatment may include AREDS2 nutritional supplements and lifestyle modifications, Valeda® photobiomodulation (light) therapy for certain patients with earlier stages of dry AMD, or injectable medications such as Syfovre® and Izervay™ for patients who have developed geographic atrophy, an advanced form of dry AMD.

At Retina Care Center, we believe treatment should be individualized. Dr. AufderHeide will evaluate your retinal imaging, stage of disease, vision, and other factors to determine which options—if any—may be appropriate for you.

If you have dry AMD, ask us about the treatment options available to help protect your vision.

What to Expect

Geographic Atrophy Injections

For patients with geographic atrophy (GA), Syfovre® or Izervay™ injections may be recommended to help slow disease progression. Your eye will be thoroughly numbed and cleaned before medication is delivered through a very fine needle. The injection itself takes only a few seconds.

Mild irritation or redness afterward is common. Contact our office immediately for increasing pain, significant vision changes, worsening redness, or light sensitivity.

Valeda® Light Therapy

Valeda is a non-invasive light therapy for certain patients with dry AMD—there are no needles or injections. Treatment is brief and you can return to normal activities immediately afterward.

A treatment series consists of nine sessions over approximately 3–5 weeks and may be repeated periodically. Your physician will determine whether Valeda is appropriate based on your stage of AMD and retinal imaging.

Treatments

Several injectable medications are available to treat retinal diseases caused by abnormal or leaking blood vessels, including wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic macular edema, and retinal vein occlusions.

Commonly used medications include Avastin® (bevacizumab, used off-label), Lucentis® (ranibizumab), Vabysmo® (faricimab), Eylea® (aflibercept), and Eylea HD® (aflibercept 8 mg). These medications work by blocking pathways that contribute to abnormal blood vessel growth and leakage in the retina.

Your physician will recommend a medication based on your diagnosis, retinal imaging, treatment history, and individual response. Treatment may begin with one medication and change over time if another option is expected to provide better disease control, longer intervals between treatments, or other clinical benefits.

Because every eye responds differently, your treatment plan will be tailored to you and adjusted as needed to help preserve your vision.

What to expect

Intravitreal injections are performed in our office and typically take only a few minutes. Our goal is to make the experience as safe and comfortable as possible.

Before your injection, we will thoroughly numb the surface of your eye with topical anesthetic. Betadine (povidone-iodine) is then used to carefully clean the eye and surrounding area to reduce the risk of infection. Betadine may cause brief burning or irritation, but this usually lasts only a few seconds.

Your physician will use a small eyelid holder, called a speculum, to keep your eyelids safely away from the treatment area. The medication is then delivered into the eye using a very fine needle. The injection itself takes only a moment, and most patients feel pressure rather than significant pain.

Because maintaining a clean environment is an important part of reducing the risk of infection, we ask that everyone refrain from talking during the injection. Afterward, your eye will be rinsed with sterile saline to remove residual Betadine.

It is common to experience mild irritation, a scratchy sensation, tearing, or redness after an injection. Preservative-free artificial tears can be used frequently for comfort.

Serious complications are uncommon, but infection inside the eye (endophthalmitis) is a rare but potentially serious risk. Please contact our office immediately if you develop increasing eye pain, worsening or significant vision loss, increasing redness, or unusual sensitivity to light following an injection.

If you have questions or concerns after your treatment, please call Retina Care Center at 541-842-2020.