Can laser eye surgery help macular degeneration?

If you’re among the millions of people considering laser eye surgery, you’re likely wondering what this procedure can do. Laser eye surgery is known to have many benefits, but can it help individuals with macular degeneration? This condition impacts millions of people worldwide every year, making it a primary concern for many when thinking about laser eye surgery.

What is macular degeneration?

Macular degeneration¹https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8311835/ is a common eye disease associated with ageing. The disease occurs due to the degeneration of the retina’s central portion, also called the macula. This may lead to progressive and permanent loss of central vision in one or both eyes, making it difficult or impossible to read, drive or recognize faces. While there is currently no cure for macular degeneration, laser eye surgery may help slow down the disease’s progress.

How we treat macular degeneration

While laser eye surgery cannot treat macular degeneration, we offer anti-VEGF medication at our sister clinic, OKKO Eye Specialist Centre, which does. This has proven to be a highly effective treatment for macular degeneration in most cases. These medications work by inhibiting the growth and leakage of abnormal blood vessels in the eye.

We use local anaesthesia to minimise discomfort during the injection process to administer the medication. A three-month induction course of injections is usually necessary to stabilise macular degeneration, followed by ongoing maintenance therapy every 4 to 12 weeks to maintain vision.

Treatment success rates are high, with a 90% likelihood of stabilising vision and preventing further decline. It is important to initiate early treatment, as earlier intervention yields better visual outcomes. Most people with early macular degeneration can continue to lead independent lives, including driving and reading, thanks to effective treatment options.

The earlier you treat macular degeneration the better

Lastly, since macular degeneration progresses with age, we recommend that if you’re over 50, you should get regular eye checks. This is to detect this problem early and begin treatment as soon as possible. Early detection is key when it comes to macular degeneration.

While laser eye surgery cannot cure macular degeneration, we offer anti-VEGF medication. If you are diagnosed with this disease, book a free consultation with us at The OKKO Eye Specialist Centre to see if we have treatment options for you.