Breakthrough drug for age-related macular degeneration

Aging is a natural process that we all have to go through. As we grow old, our body’s normal cell regeneration slows down. Our senses are most affected by these changes, and the sense of sight is one of the most vulnerable.

"People usually experience symptoms of age-related eye disorders around the age of 40. That’s why we encourage an annual eye examination to detect age-related eye disorders early before they cause irreparable damage," says Dr. Robert N. Uy, cataract and retina-vitreous surgeon of the UST Hospital. Age-related eye disorders include cataract, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Cataract is a progressive clouding of the eye’s natural lens caused by protein degradation. People with cataract describe having the condition as like looking through mist, smoke, a cloud, a waterfall, or a piece of wax paper, with a gradual blurring or dimming of vision.

Glaucoma is a condition that progressively damages the optic nerve, the major nerve that connects the eye to the brain. Optic nerve damage prevents images received by the eye from reaching the brain, which results in irreversible partial or complete blindness in both eyes.

AMD is a degenerative eye disease that destroys the macula, the central part of the retina at the back of the eye responsible for "straight ahead" central vision. "These eye disorders should be taken seriously," says Dr. Uy. "If not detected in their curable stage, they may lead to blindness."

If glaucoma is detected early, your doctor can prescribe drops to control the damage. Cataracts can be surgically removed. AMD, the leading cause of blindness in older people affecting an estimated 25 to 30 million people worldwide, can now be cured through a breakthrough treatment.

AMD symptoms include distortion of objects and lines (metamorphopsia), blurring of vision and reduced visual acuity, decreased color vision, increased glare sensitivity resulting from sensitivity to changing light conditions, and the development of scotoma or a dark spot in the center of the visual field surrounded by a distorted image.

Untreated, AMD increases in severity and leads to blindness, robbing, patients of the ability to perform everyday activities independently and causing significant their emotional distress. People with AMD often feel anxious and depressed as they become increasingly dependent on caregivers. Loss of vision due to AMD is potentially as debilitating as other chronic disabling diseases such as arthritis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and even cancer.

"The good news is AMD can now be cured through a new injectable drug called Ranibizumab. It has been shown to significantly improve vision of AMD patients," Dr. Uy says.

Administration of this breakthrough treatment involves a 10-minute outpatient procedure and patients can go about their usual activities shortly after the procedure. After the treatment, an optical coherence tomography (OCT) test is conducted to measure the thickness of the patient’s retina. The OCT results help determine whether the patient needs more treatment sessions.