Exudative (Wet) Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Questions & Answers

Updated: Aug 28, 2023
  • Author: F Ryan Prall, MD; Chief Editor: Andrew A Dahl, MD, FACS  more...
  • Print
Questions & Answers

Overview

What is exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

What are the symptoms of exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

How does exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affect visual acuity?

Which imaging studies are performed for suspected (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

Which anti–vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents are used in the treatment of exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

Which laser treatments are used to treat exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

What is the most common cause of irreversible vision loss?

What is the difference between nonexudative (dry) and exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

How is age-related macular degeneration (AMD) severity classified by The Wisconsin Age-Related Maculopathy Grading System?

How is age-related macular degeneration (AMD) severity classified by The Age-Related Eye Disease Study Group (AREDS)?

What is the predictive model for development of advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in patients with early AMD?

How has the classification and diagnosis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) changed from the traditional wet and dry designations?

What are the symptoms of age-related maculopathy?

What causes age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

What is the pathophysiology of age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

What is the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)?

What is the role of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells in the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

What is the role of complement factor H (CFH) in the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

What is the role of drusen formation in the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

How does age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affect quality of life?

Does age-related macular degeneration (AMD) have a racial predilection?

Is age-related macular degeneration (AMD) more common in men or women?

Is age-related macular degeneration (AMD) diagnosed in young adults?

What is the prevalence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in the US?

Presentation

What are the symptoms of age-related maculopathy?

What are the symptoms of exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

Which physical finds indicate exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

What are the risk factors for development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

DDX

What are the differential diagnoses for Exudative (Wet) Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)?

Workup

Which lab studies are useful in the diagnosis of exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

Which imaging studies are performed in the diagnosis of exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration?

What is the role of fluorescein angiography (FA) in the diagnosis of exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

How is choroidal neovascularization (CNV) classified in exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

When is angiography performed in patients with exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

What is the role of indocyanine green (ICG) angiography in the diagnosis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

What is the role of optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography in the diagnosis of exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

Treatment

What is the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors in the treatment of exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

Is pegaptanib sodium (Macugen) used in the treatment of exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

How effective is pegaptanib sodium (Macugen) in the treatment of exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

Is ranibizumab (Lucentis) used in the treatment of exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

How effective is ranibizumab (Lucentis) in the treatment of exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

Is ranibizumab (Lucentis) effective in improving visual acuity in exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

What are the adverse effects of ranibizumab (Lucentis) in patients with exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

What are the dosage regimen options of ranibizumab (Lucentis) in the treatment of exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

What are the adverse effects of long-term ranibizumab (Lucentis) therapy in patients with exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

Is bevacizumab (Avastin) used in the treatment of exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

How effective is bevacizumab (Avastin) in the treatment of exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

Has bevacizumab (Avastin) been FDA approved for ocular use in the treatment of exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

What are the adverse effects of ocular bevacizumab (Avastin) therapy in the treatment of exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

Is aflibercept (Eylea) effective in the treatment of exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

Are statins effective in preventing exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

When is thermal laser photocoagulation used in the treatment of exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

How is photodynamic therapy (PDT) used in the treatment of exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

Is verteporfin (Visudyne) FDA approved for use in the treatment of exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

How is verteporfin (Visudyne) used with photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the treatment of exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

When are combination therapies beneficial in the treatment of exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

How effective is photodynamic therapy (PDT) combined with bevacizumab (Avastin) in the treatment of exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

Is verteporfin (Visudyne) combined with ranibizumab (Lucentis) effective in the treatment of exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

Is stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) combination therapy effective in the treatment of exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

What surgical procedures may be used in the treatment of exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

Medications

Which medications are approved for treatment of exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD)?

Which medications in the drug class Phototherapy Agents are used in the treatment of Exudative (Wet) Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)?

Which medications in the drug class Anti-VEGF Therapy are used in the treatment of Exudative (Wet) Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)?

Which medications in the drug class Ophthalmics, Complement Inhibitors are used in the treatment of Exudative (Wet) Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)?