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Macular Degeneration
Assessment and out-patient treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is available privately within the calming, unique and quality clinical environment at The Edinburgh Clinic.
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye disorder in which the central retina – the macula – becomes damaged, leading to a reduction in central vision. AMD is the most common cause of serious loss of vision in Europe and the USA. It affects the central (detail) vision, but normally leaves the outer (peripheral) vision unaffected.
The treatment of retinal problems and macular disorders depend on the diagnosis. If your condition is advanced, you may require intravitreal injections, which will also require follow-up visits and repeat optical coherence tomography (OCT) testing to assess your progress.
What treatments are available?
There is currently no cure for wet (neovascular) or dry (atrophic) macular degeneration, but intravitreal treatment is available to help patients with the condition.
Injections
Injections are commonly used to treat age-related macular degeneration (AMD), vein occlusions or diabetic maculopathy – another form of macular degeneration. For this treatment, you are given local anaesthetic eye drops, which numb the eye prior to the injection. The injection is carried out by your consultant ophthalmic surgeon in our out-patient Eye Clinic suite. Recovery is fairly quick and patients typically return home within an hour or two and resume their normal activities within 24 hours.
Anti VEGf Therapy
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the name given to proteins in the body that help in the unwanted formation of abnormal blood vessels that damage the eye’s retina. Anti VEGf medication has been created to bind to the VEGf proteins to prevent the growth of any more abnormal blood vessels. During an out-patient treatment session for AMD, your specialist consultant ophthalmologist will inject anti VEGf drugs into the clear jelly within the eye, called the vitreous. Eye drops are used to numb the eye, and this procedure is typically pain free.
You can be referred to this service by your GP or optometrist.
Situated on Colinton Road, near Edinburgh’s leafy Polwarth, Morningside and Merchiston areas, The Edinburgh Clinic is within easy reach of the City Centre and offers free on-site parking for ease of access and on-street metered parking nearby. Our patient waiting and treatment areas are comfortable and substantial, allowing a friend or family member to accompany you to the clinic and wait while you see your consultant.