Laser Surgery for Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye condition that is a leading cause of vision loss in older adults, especially those over the age of 50. It is not curable and tends to progress over time.¹

Different treatments for macular degeneration can:¹

• Help to slow the progression of the disease
• Preserve your existing vision
• Reduce the risk of more severe vision loss

Laser surgery is one kind of treatment for wet AMD.¹

Types of laser surgery

Laser surgeries used to treat wet AMD include:2,3

• Laser photocoagulation
• Photodynamic therapy (PDT) with Visudyne®

Both of these are typically done as outpatient procedures at your doctor’s office and involve minimal recovery time. There are risks and benefits to both types of procedures, so talk to your doctor to determine whether either of these might be options for you.2,3

While laser surgery may be beneficial for some people with wet AMD, it is not a first-line treatment and is usually used along with anti-VEGF drugs.2,3

Laser photocoagulation

Laser photocoagulation The goal of laser photocoagulation is to reduce the risk of the additional vision loss that would occur with the progression of wet AMD.2

However, part of the macula is also burned during laser photocoagulation, which may result in some extra vision loss or a blind spot. There is also a small risk that the blood vessels may grow back and the surgery or another treatment will have to be redone.2

Photodynamic therapy with Visudyne

PDT with Visudyne® involves a laser and injecting a light-sensitive medicine called Visudyne into a vein in the arm. The dye then travels to the abnormal blood vessels under the retina, at which time a laser is used to activate the dye and clot off those vessels.3

Unlike traditional laser photocoagulation, PDT spares the macula because the light-sensitive dye is only located in blood vessels. This makes it less likely that you will develop a new blind spot related to this procedure. However, the effects of PDT are not long-term, and it may have to be repeated every few months.3

Post-laser surgery

After laser surgery, you might have some eye soreness for a few days. This is usually relieved with over-the-counter pain medicines, but talk to your doctor before taking anything. You may also experience some blurry vision for a few days while your eye heals. You should wear dark glasses for a day or two, especially if you have had PDT with Visudyne, because of light sensitivity.2,3

Follow up with your doctor accordingly, and call them if you start to experience anything abnormal or if your vision gets worse instead of better over time.2,3

Talk to your doctor

If you have wet AMD, talk with your doctor to see if laser surgery is an option and which procedure would be a better fit for your situation. While none of the currently available treatments will cure your wet AMD, they can slow down further vision loss and preserve your quality of life.2,3