Researchers have indicated that oral antioxidants like vitamins C and E and oral zinc may play a role in reducing retinal damage by terminating the chemical reactions initiated by free radicals, created by retinal metabolism. The treatment for symptomatic wet AMD begins with a referral to the vitreoretinal specialist for intravenous fluorescein angiography. Laser photocoagulation reduces the risk of severe vision loss in patients with definable subretinal choroidal neovascular membranes. In cases where hemorrhage and exudate obscures the angiogram or the neovascular membrane is poorly defined by fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography may offer an additional modality to determine if treatment is feasible. Unfortunately, the recurrence rate following treatment is approximately 50 percent.
Most recurrences develop within the first year, making a three-month follow up schedule critical.
The efficacy and effectiveness of surgical procedures for the removal of subretinal neovascular membranes are currently under investigation. In cases where bilateral central visual acuity has been lost, low vision and vision rehabilitation specialists may be able to offer training or optical devices which improve patients' quality of life. In general, the risk to patients with dry AMD for progression to wet AMD, over any given five-year period, is approximately 14 to 20 percent.