Since Macular Degeneration or AMD is an incurable disease, there have been numerous experiments and tests conducted by researchers to halt or slow down the rate of its progression and vision loss caused by the disease. While most of the results have been disappointing, some of them may be actually helpful in the treatment of AMD.
The RHEO procedure, a type of blood filtration or apheresis, has been devised to treat dry AMD by removing certain substances in the blood plasma like Macro-proteins and fatty components in the blood, related to the development of AMD. The RHEO device is awaiting FDA approval.
A type of drug developed by Genentech, called Avastin is thought to be effective in treating AMD. The drug is administered intravenously and it targets a certain type of protein which may be instrumental in the development of AMD. Some results show improved vision in AMD patients within one week of administering the drug.
In May 2005, Dr. Muna Naash, University of Oklahoma, in collaboration with the biotechnology company Copernicus Therapeutics, Inc. of Cleveland, Ohio, demonstrated that compacted DNA nanoparticles (CDN) may be a highly effective mechanism for the delivery of healthy genes to the eyes of people afflicted with Macular degeneration.
Iridex officials announced at the Macula Society Meeting in Key Biscayne, Florida in February 2005 that an experimental treatment developed by the company, known as Transpupillary Thermotherapy (TTT), that utilizes an infrared laser combined with drug treatment, appeared to be effective in treating certain AMD patients with more severe vision loss.
Development of other experimental drugs is also in progress. Retaane by Alcon, squalamine lactate by Genaera Corp. and combretastatin by OXiGENE are some of the more promising drugs that may be instrumental in arresting the development of abnormal cells in the eye.
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Macular Degeneration Medications
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Though there is no permanent cure for Macular Degeneration, some medications may actually assist in halting or slowing down the progress of the disease and loss of vision. While some of these medications are totally experimental, others have been found to be effective and have...
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Macular Degeneration Treatments
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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There is no treatment that can cure or reverse the course of Dry Macular Degeneration. Even the available treatments for the Wet type at present are only meant to slow down the progress of the disease and avoid further loss of vision. The success of...
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Macular Degeneration
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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The progressive deterioration of the Macula or the central portion of the retina causes macular degeneration. The macula is responsible for focusing central vision in the eye (ability to see objects directly in front) and for processing sharp, clear images. Macular degeneration or damage to...
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Wet Macular Degeneration
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Wet Macular Degeneration, also known as the exudative type, is the more severe of the two types of AMD or Age-related Macular Degeneration, which cause 90% of blindness from the disease but only accounts for 15% of AMD cases. Wet macular degeneration develops when new...
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Age Related Macular Degeneration
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Age-related Macular Degeneration or AMD is a common eye disease that causes progressive damage to the central part of the retina, also known as the Macula. AMD is the leading cause of visual impairment in the United States, and blindness in senior citizens of America,...
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Dry Macular Degeneration
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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There are two types of Macular Degeneration or AMD. The first and more common type is the Dry Macular Degeneration. 85% to 90% of the cases of AMD or Age-related macular degeneration are of the dry or atrophic type. It is also a fact that...
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Macular Degeneration Symptoms
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Macular degeneration usually generates a gradual and painless loss of vision. The signs and symptoms of AMD may depend upon what type of the disease a person may have – Dry AMD or Wet AMD. Retinal examinations such as Ophthalmoscopy, Vision testing, Fundus photography, Amsler...
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Vision Care
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Over one million Americans over the age of 40 face the threat of blindness or are currently blind. Another 2.4 million are visually impaired. These numbers are expected to double in the next 30 years. Diabetic retinopathy is one of the leading causes of blindness....
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Malignant Mesothelioma Research
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Malignant mesotheliomas are highly aggressive cancers, usually linked to asbestos exposure. Most patients survive approximately one year after diagnosis, and only seven percent of patients make it past five years. If not diagnosed early, these cancers are extremely difficult to treat. However, early diagnosis is...
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Research on Hyaluronic Acid Knee Injections
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Hyaluronic acid, a key component of human tissue, aiding the body’s flexibility, mobility and moisture retention is a popular component of many anti-aging products but can also provide a wealth of benefits in the medical sphere. Recently, in an attempt to find effective treatment methods...