We would be pleased to look at your chart to determine if you may be eligible. If you have not been a patient at Wilmer, we can also review photographs you had taken elsewhere. The study coordinators, Ms. Patti Hawse and Ms. Mike Hartnett, can be contacted at 410 955-6586. They can further explain the study and its procedures and answer any of your questions. Reserve your seats early by calling 410 614-6208.
Degeneration means slow deterioration or gradual loss of function.
In this case, it is the gradual loss of central vision and it is due to the death of photoreceptor and retinal pigmented epithelial cells, two cell types that are required for visual function. We do not know why these cells die in patients with AMD, but we suspect it is due to multiple inherited mistakes in the genetic material that increases susceptibility to damage from environmental exposures. If the blood vessels can be localized and they are not right in the center of the macula, it may be possible to do laser photocoagulation to destroy the blood vessels. Other surgical treatment approaches include removing the abnormal blood vessels or moving the retina so that laser can be done without destroying central vision. While these treatments may be initially successful, they do not deal with the underlying stimuli for blood vessel growth, so the unwanted blood vessels may come back and destroy the central vision.