This is page 4 of 4 about Macular Degeneration. There is no available treatment for dry type. For wet type, laser treatment may occasionally halt the progress of the disease if you are seen very early in the disease. The purpose of the laser is to seal the leaking blood vessels.
Treatment takes only a few minutes.
Before the laser is applied local anaesthetic drops are put on the eye to numb it and drops instilled to dilate the pupil. This allows a contact lens held by the doctor to be placed against the eye. The contact lens helps keep the lids open while allowing the doctor to view the back of the eye in greater detail. Sometimes a dull thud sensation or occasionally a sharp pain is felt. Any discomfort experienced the same evening can be relieved by taking a mild painkiller e.g. Panadol and resting.