How quickly does wet AMD progress?

[Ikansea]

Hi All! I was diagnosed with wet AMD in September of 2017 ( one and a half years ago) in my left eye. I have been receiving injections ( 4 Avastin and 9 Eylea) at , sometimes irregular, intervals. My affected eye has continued to get worse. I developed fuzzy/ faded vision over the entire visual field of the eye after an Eylea injection, 2 injections ago, not just the central vision area. I'm seriously thinking of abandoning the injections. Post injection yesterday has been agony (I think I inadvertently moved my eye during the injection! )

My question is: Without treatment, how quickly does wet AMD progress to "legally blind"? And how long can we expect to maintain our vision with treatment?

I understand that we are all different, but, surely, there must be statistics. I am unable to find them online. Thanks for any information you can give me

[kevinaki]

Whatever you decide to do with your "bad left eye"...... try to save your "good right eye" with the Mac Society suggestions listed below.

macularsociety.org/sites/de...

macularsociety.org/news/res...

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[Ikansea in reply to kevinaki]

Kevinaki, Thanks for the links. I take Areds 2 religiously so I was interested to read that some studies found that it was no more effective than the original Areds formula. Also interesting that supplement is not beneficial if you have active wet AMD. I will continue taking the supplements (and eating Healthy!) to protect my dry AMD eye. I appreciate you response

[Tetrazzini]

I appreciate your feelings but, as you say, everybody is different. I think you have to discuss it all with your consultant and be guided by what he/she says.

[Ikansea in reply to Tetrazzini]

Hi Tetrazzini. You are right. Thanks for reply

[ironbrain]

A few months. The central vision in my left became dimmer in May 2017, colours weren't so bright and its acuity was probably also down. By the end of the year I had a permanent scotoma. In the very centre of my vision in that eye, I can just about make out the shadow of an object against a bright light – not clearly enough to count fingers.

I think you've really got to look into the fact that your entire field of vision is affected. Have you not asked your clinic about it?

[The soreness may have been the clip scratching the cornea.]

[Ikansea in reply to ironbrain]

ironbrain, thanks for your reply. At last visit, when I told the physician that the entire visual field was "fuzzy", he just nodded and proceeded to prepare for the injection. Next time I will put it in form of a question!

[dnico]

I would highly recommend not to stop your injections. My mother has wet AMD at both eyes and she has been having injection (lucentis) for the last 6 years. It is your best chance to avoid rapid deterioration in your eye sight and you might as well see some improvement. Unfortunately I can’t give you the statistics you are asking for but it is the only option at the table right now that scientifically can help people with AMD. It’s better to take that than opting out hoping that the eye will wear out too slowly to be bothered about.

One small side note: Maybe your eye isn’t getting cleaned/flushed out after the injection and the pain you feel is because the betadine (or something similar) that they put around your eye to disinfect it. That’s something to discuss with your doctor I suppose. Also, there is the possibility that the fuzziness is due to a developing cataract.

All best!

[Ikansea in reply to dnico]

dnico, that is encouraging that your mom is still receiving treatment after 6 years. Is her sight stable or just a slow decrease?

My clinic does a pretty thorough washout after. I have read that other people use eye drops after they get home. This amazes me because after the anesthetic drops wear off (about an hour), the thought of putting anything in my eye sounds like torture. In fact i did try it once and it hurt like.......

Yes, I have cataracts. Can't repair "bad" eye while AMD is active, and afraid to do good eye since it was suggested that the surgery might increase chance of developing wet AMD. ???

Best to you, also!

[dnico in reply to Ikansea]

Hi

She has seen some improvement. AMD first started in one eye and then after a couple of years it was developed at the other one too. Unfortunately this is not something very uncommon or unheard off, so in your case I would say to discuss with your consultant whether it would make sense to have your healthy eye checked once a while. Now, back to my mum, about 6months ago she started complaining that her eyesight is steadily getting worse until she had her eye examined for cataract and found that an operation is needed because the cataract is at an advanced stage. So it’s now been just over one full month since the operation and next week she is going for a cataract operation in the other eye. She says however that after the operation she sees a lot better, and this is still without her glasses prescribed for her. She can’t have any glasses right now, apparently there must be some time passed by until a new prescription.

With regards to your last sentence, I am not a doctor and definitely I can’t discredit your consultant but I have read that there is no connection between cataract surgery and AMD, but again I suppose your doctors know better.

All best

[Ikansea in reply to dnico]

No, it wasn't my ophthalmologist who suggested a connection between cataract surgery and wet AMD, though he did say my AMD (active leakage) needed to be stabilized before I could consider surgery. And I, personally, haven't seen any scientific studies. I have just seen references about the inflammation from surgery causing increased blood flow, etc.

What are the statistics of dry AMD becoming wet? I think only 10% - 15%.

So, I figure with my luck, if there is only a small % of wet AMD following surgery, I better pause!

Glad to hear your mom is doing well. Best to both of you.

[Spottedog in reply to Ikansea]

I had cataract surgery in both eyes and chose multi-focal lens two years ago. Then last month was diagnosed with wet AMD. After doing some research I found substantial information that supports the idea of an increased likehoid of contracting AMD after cataract surgery.

The doctor assured me, AMD is genetically linked in conjunction with age . I agree with your hesitation to remove your cataract in your good eye. Eventually your vision will predicate your choices. Until then keep track of changes in field of vision and depth perception. These factors really were areas that made me realize I needed the surgery.

[Ikansea in reply to Spottedog]

Thank you Spottedog!

Your information is most helpful. I have notices a decrease in depth perception and remove my glasses when going down stairs and hiking (progressive lenses) already. I do try to keep a record of sight progression, but since it's gradual, it's difficult. Mostly I'm aware of the change when I can't read something that I previously could...like street signs! My husband quips "take a picture". If only we could!

I'm sorry to hear of your recent diagnosis. Take heart in that many bloggers on this site have been able to maintain their vision for many years.