Wet AMD
About 90% of significant vision loss and blindness is associated with wet AMD, specifically the development of choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Wet AMD, also known as CNV, occurs when blood vessels grow and penetrate the retina, leaking blood and fluid that damages your photoreceptor cells. It is this damage that causes vision loss.
While dry AMD progresses slowly and often causes no vision loss, wet AMD progresses very rapidly. If left undetected and untreated, the development of wet AMD can lead to blindness in just a matter of months.
Illustration of Retina with Wet AMD |
Retinal Photo of Wet AMD |
Symptoms of wet AMD include distortions or blind spots in your central visual field.
Normal |
 Metamorphopsia or distortions |
 Normal |
 Scotoma or blind spots |
While there is no way to predict who will develop wet AMD, certain patient segments are at greater risk.
- Patients who already have wet AMD in one eye
- Patients with dry AMD in both eyes
- Patients with dry AMD in one eye
Early detection of wet AMD is critical. Clinical results have demonstrated that outcomes are generally better the earlier new treatments for wet AMD are initiated. In many cases when wet AMD is detected early, the disease progression can be halted. If treatment can be initiated when the lesion is small and you still have good visual acuity, your potential to maintain good vision is much better.
The most common treatment for wet AMD consists of drugs known as Anti-VEGF. The brand names for these drugs are Lucentis and Avastin by Genentech or Macugen by Eyetech.
