An experimental drug may one day
make treatment simpler for patients suffering from vision-threatening
age-related macula degeneration. These are contained in a report
published in the journal ‘Science Translational Medicine’.
The
drug — called AXT107 — has been only tested on mice and rabbits, but it
requires far fewer injections than current therapy to prevent vision
loss.
Current treatment requires frequent
injections directly into the eye, the report stated. Age-related mascular
degeneration — also called macula degeneration, AMD or ARMD — is the
deterioration of the mascula, which is the small central area of the
retina of the eye that controls visual acuity. According to the United
States, U.S. National Institutes of Health, NIH, age-related macular
degeneration is a common eye condition and a leading cause of vision
loss among people age 60 and older.
The
condition causes damage to the macula, a small spot near the centre of
the retina and the part of the eye needed for sharp vision. In some
people, age-related macular degeneration advances so slowly that vision
loss doesn’t occur for a long time. In others, the disease progresses
faster and may lead to a loss of vision in one or both eyes, according
to the NIH.
Mascular
degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss among ageing
population and the number of people affected by AMD is expected to
increase significantly in the years ahead. As age-related macular
degeneration progresses, a blurred area near the centre of vision is a
common symptom.
Over
time, the blurred area may grow larger and blank spots may develop in
central vision. Objects also may not appear as bright as they used to.
Age-related macular degeneration by itself doesn’t lead to complete
blindness, the NIH says. The loss of central vision can, however,
interfere with simple activities, such as the ability to see faces,
drive, cook, read and write.
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