Macular Degeneration (cont.)
Andrew A. Dahl, MD, FACS
Andrew A. Dahl, MD, is a board-certified ophthalmologist. Dr. Dahl's educational background includes a BA with Honors and Distinction from Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, and an MD from Cornell University, where he was selected for Alpha Omega Alpha, the national medical honor society. He had an internal medical internship at the New York Hospital/Cornell Medical Center.
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
In this Article
- Macular degeneration facts
- What is macular degeneration?
- What is the retina?
- What is the macula?
- What is age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?
- What is wet age-related macular degeneration?
- What are retinal drusen?
- What is dry age-related macular degeneration?
- What causes macular degeneration?
- What are risk factors for macular degeneration?
- What are macular degeneration symptoms?
- What are signs of macular degeneration?
- How is macular degeneration diagnosed?
- What is the treatment for wet macular degeneration?
- What is the treatment for dry macular degeneration?
- What are complications of macular degeneration?
- What is the prognosis for macular degeneration?
- Can macular degeneration be prevented?
- What research is being done on macular degeneration?
- Find a local Eye Doctor in your town
What research is being done on macular degeneration?
There is a large amount of research currently being performed to increase our understanding of the basic molecular mechanisms of macular degeneration. These include evaluation of families with a history of AMD to understand genetic and hereditary factors that may cause the disease. There are multiple drugs and devices presently in various phases of clinical trials to both prevent and treat macular degeneration. These include new drugs to prevent new blood vessel formation, certain anti-inflammatory treatments for the wet form of AMD, and drug-delivery systems to reduce the need for frequent injections for the wet form of macular degeneration. The possibility of transplantation of transplanting healthy cells into a diseased retina is also being investigated.
This research should provide better ways to detect, treat, and prevent vision loss in people with AMD.
REFERENCES:
Prevent Blindness America. "Amsler Grid." <http://www.preventblindness.org/eye_tests/mdchart.html>.
United States. National Eye Institute. "Age-Related Eye Disease Study." Dec. 2008. <http://www.nei.nih.gov/amd/summary.asp>.
Last Editorial Review: 5/20/2011
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