Treatments

Key points

Treatment depends on which macular condition you have 

• Some treatments slow down vision loss, whereas others keep your sight stable 
• Not all macular conditions can be treated 
• Support is available to help you stay independent, despite sight loss  

How is treatment decided?

Treatment depends on how your vision is being affected by the macular condition you have. Your eye specialist will consider: 

• The type of macular disease you have 
• How quickly your eyesight is changing  
• Your general health  
• Other medications you are taking 

Anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (anti-VEGF)

Anti-VEGF injections are the most common treatment for macular disease. They are given to those with wet AMD, diabetic macular oedema, myopic choroidal neovascularisation, retinal vein occlusion, as well as some other macular diseases and dystrophies. 

Blood vessel growth can happen when the macula becomes weak or damaged. These new blood vessels and fluid can disrupt the macula and affect your vision. Anti-VEGFs work by blocking blood vessels from growing and leaking in the eye.  

Anti-VEGF needs to be given as injections into the eye. These typically need to be repeated every few months, although that depends on the drug used and how each person reacts to the treatment. 

Current approved anti-VEGF drugs: 

• aflibercept (Eylea, Eylea HD, and aflibercept biosimilars e.g. Yesafili) 
• ranibizumab (Lucentis and ranibizumab biosimilars e.g. Ongavia) 
• faricimab (Vabysmo) 
• bevacizumab (Lytenava) 
• brolucizumab (Beovu) 

What to expect from eye injections 

You will usually receive eye injections at a clinic or hospital appointment.  

• Your eyes will be numbed with eye drops, so you won’t feel any pain 
• It’s possible you will feel pressure when the needle goes into your eye 
• Appointments can take a few hours, depending on tests 
• Your eyes might feel sore or gritty for a few days after your injections 

What are the risks of eye injections?

There are risks to every treatment, but serious complications are very unlikely. After your injection, it’s important to contact your eye clinic if you notice: 

• An increase in pain 
• Vision getting worse 
• Eyes getting more red and uncomfortable 
• Sensitivity to light 

Risks of surgery and your recovery

As with all surgery, there are risks, but vitrectomy is generally safe. Risks can include: 

• Eye infections 
• Bleeding from the eyes 
• Development of cataracts 

Vision can be blurry after surgery but this does resolve as your eye heals. Your eye surgeon and their team will explain what to expect. For more information about surgery and what to expect from recovery, check our page on macular hole. 

Lifestyle advice

Lifestyle changes can help slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration in some cases. This includes: 

• A healthy diet rich in leafy greens and Mediterranean diet  
• Taking AREDS2-formula supplements 
• Quitting smoking 

Dry AMD

Currently, there’s no medical treatment available in the UK on the NHS for dry AMD, which is why the Macular Society continues to invest in groundbreaking research to find a cure. Read more about the research projects we’re funding. 

Approximately 10-15% of people with late-stage dry AMD eventually develop the wet form of the disease. If you experience a sudden change in your vision, it’s vital to seek urgent advice from your optometrist or hospital eye clinic. If one eye is affected by AMD, the second eye can often develop the condition within a few years. 

Questions to ask your eye specialist

It can help to ask your eye specialist questions about the treatment to work out what’s best for you. Some questions you can ask: 

1. What treatment do you recommend for me and why? 
2. How often should I have treatment? 
3. What are the risks and benefits of this treatment? 
4. What happens if I choose not to start treatment? 

Vision support and coping strategies 

Living with a macular condition can be challenging, but there are many ways to maintain independence and quality of life. 

• Low vision aids, such as magnifiers and screen readers 
• Technology tools, including accessibility apps and devices 
• Rehabilitation services to help adapt your daily life 
• Support groups, both in-person and online, to connect with others living with macular disease 

Research and clinical trials

Researchers are always working on finding new ways to diagnose and treat macular conditions. New medicines and diagnostic scans are constantly being developed and tested.  

Research takes many years and treatments must be thoroughly tested to make sure they work and are safe.  

Currently, research is focusing on: 

• Ways to slow down the progress of macular conditions 
• Better medicines for injections that last longer, meaning you don’t need to have them so often 
• Stem cell research to replace faulty cells in the eye 
• Gene therapies 
• Different types of laser and light treatments 
• Implants that slowly release drugs into the eye 

The Macular Society supports and funds pioneering research into macular disease. Clinical trials play a vital role in developing new treatments and understanding these complex conditions. 

Learn about our latest research initiatives.