Treatments
Treatment depends on the type of AMD you have.
- Dry AMD – there's no treatment, but vision aids can help reduce the effect on your life. Read about living with AMD.
- Wet AMD – you may need regular eye injections and, very occasionally, a light treatment called photodynamic therapy, to stop your vision getting worse.
What the different types mean
| Dry AMD |
Wet AMD |
| Caused by a build-up of a fatty substance called drusen at the back of the eyes |
Caused by the growth of abnormal blood vessels at the back of the eyes |
| Common |
Less common |
| Gets worse gradually – usually over several years |
Can get worse quickly – sometimes in days or weeks |
| No treatment – unless it develops into wet AMD |
Treatment can help stop vision getting worse |
Anti-VEGF medicines – ranibizumab (Lucentis), aflibercept (Eylea) and brolucizumab (Beovu)
Injections given directly into the eyes:
- stops vision getting worse in 9 out of 10 people and improves vision in 3 out of 10 people
- usually given every 1, 2 or 3 months for as long as necessary
- drops numb the eyes before treatment – most people have minimal discomfort
- side effects include bleeding in the eye, feeling like there's something in the eye, and redness and irritation of the eye
Macular Society: injections for wet AMD
Photodynamic therapy (PDT)
A light is shined at the back of the eyes to destroy the abnormal blood vessels that cause wet AMD:
- may be recommended alongside eye injections if injections alone do not help
- usually needs to be repeated every few months
- side effects include temporary vision problems, and the eyes and skin being sensitive to light for a few days or weeks
Find out more about photodynamic therapy
Research into new treatments
Last Reviewed
18 November 2021
