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Age-related macular degeneration can lead to vision loss in seniors, but new therapies have offered fresh hope for preserving eyesight later in life, eye experts say.

These cutting-edge therapies benefit both the dry and wet types of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), says the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS).

Eleven million people in the United States have AMD, wi...

One of the two most common drugs used to treat age-related macular degeneration (AMD) appears better than the other, a new, small study suggests.

Among 106 patients with "wet" age-related macular degeneration, 50% of those treated with aflibercept (Eylea) could be weaned off the drug after one year, compared with only 17% of those treated with bevacizumab (Avastin), researchers found.

Routine eye checks can help ensure seniors know if they're developing any age-related vision issues.

An expert from Baylor College of Medicine spells out what seniors need to know.

"Don't blame vision issues on just aging eyes. Get your eyes checked out because it can be a more serious issue that can be treated," said

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • November 6, 2022
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  • Full Page
  • In a finding that suggests more Americans than ever are struggling with their sight as they get older, researchers report that nearly 20 million adults have age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

    Broken down, about 18.3 million people aged 40 and up had an early stage of the condition in 2019, while almost 1.5 million people had late-stage AMD.

    "There haven't been many new examin...

    An off-brand medication for diabetic macular edema might prove just as effective in early treatment as its more expensive alternative, potentially saving patients thousands of dollars, new research suggests.

    The vision condition is a common complication of poorly controlled diabetes, which can damage bl...

    Untreated vision loss may put an older adult at an increased risk for dementia, though it's not clear why, according to a new study.

    Researchers found that the likelihood of having some form of cognitive impairment was 137% higher in seniors who had trouble seeing than in those without vision issues. Cognitive impairment is a general term for problems with thinking and memory.

    "Alt...

    Poor eyesight makes it harder to read and easier to trip. But it can also lead to a misdiagnosis of mild mental decline in older people, according to a new, small study.

    That can happen if someone's thinking abilities are assessed using vision-dependent tests, researchers explained.

    They noted that as many as 1 in 4 people older than 50 have undiagnosed vision problems such as

    Keeping your drinking and your weight in check can help protect your sight as you age, experts say.

    Moderate to heavy drinking is associated with a higher risk of a sight-threatening condition called age-related macular degeneration (AMD). A poor diet and excess weight can also influence your odds for AMD, the most common cause of blindness in Americans older than 50.

    "We alrea...

    Early diagnosis and care can often stop the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which is the leading cause of vision loss in older Americans, the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) says.

    As part of AMD Awareness Month in February, the society urges people to pay attention to their vision and learn more about AMD.

    Age is the main risk factor for

    Injection medications can save the vision of older people with macular degeneration, but the ongoing regimen is taxing. Now a preliminary study raises the possibility that some patients can safely be "weaned off" the treatment.

    Researchers found that of just over 100 patients they treated with the eye injections, nearly one-third were able to "pause" the therapy within the first year. And...

    Midlife vision problems could increase women's risk of depression, new research suggests.

    Rates of eye problems and depression rise during midlife, but knowledge about how vision affects depression at that time has been limited. The new study identified a significant link between impaired vision and development of depression.

    "Given that the combination of visual impairment and depr...

    Diseases that can rob you of vision as you age also appear to be tied to an increased risk for dementia, a new study finds.

    Specifically, age-related macular degeneration, cataracts and diabetes-related eye disease were linked with a higher likelihood of dementia, researchers in China said. However, one other common eye ailment, glaucoma, was not linked to dementia risk.

    The new stu...

    A number of new treatments for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a progressive eye disease, are under development. AMD is a leading cause of vision loss in older people.

    About 11 million Americans have AMD, which affects part of the eye that allows you to see fine detail. There are two types: wet and dry. Wet AMD is treated with eye injections every month or two, and dry AMD with an...

    A promising step toward using retinal cell transplants to treat blindness is reported in a new study.

    Adult retinal stem cells from deceased human donors survived when they were transplanted into the eyes of non-human primates, according to the researchers.

    The cells were taken from the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). It is a layer of cells that supports and nourishes the retina, ...

    If you're having eye problems, you may not know which type of specialist to consult.

    Here's some help from experts who explain the roles of an optometrist, ophthalmologist, pediatric ophthalmologist, orthoptist and optician.

    Optometrists provide comprehensive eye care, including evaluations for glasses and contact lenses and common eye diseases.

    "They play a role in monitoring...

    A drug long used to treat Parkinson's disease may benefit patients with a severe form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a small clinical trial suggests.

    One of the leading causes of vision loss in older people is a condition called dry macular degeneration. More than 15% of Americans over age 70 have AMD, and 10% to 15% of those cases go on to develop the more sev...

    As the population ages, millions of older Americans are at risk of losing their sight, a new study warns.

    Between 2002 and 2017, the number at high risk for vision loss rose from 65 million to 93 million, according to federal health data.

    "The number of adults at high risk for vision loss is high and may continue to increase in the coming years with the increasing populati...

    Missing just one eye doctor appointment can result in vision loss in older adults with macular degeneration, a new study warns.

    Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss in the elderly, and these findings show the need for patients to keep all scheduled appointments with an ophthalmologist, the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine researchers sa...

    Tailpipe pollution might pose a real health threat to aging eyes, according to a new study out of Taiwan.

    Researchers there found that exposure to high levels of two car exhaust pollutants nearly doubled the odds of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

    It's one of the most common causes of vision loss in older people.

    The study is the first of its kind to "demo...

    Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss in seniors, and existing treatments are few.

    But now, experiments in pigs and rats suggest that stem cell therapy might help curb at least one form of the disease.

    The results could soon lead to the first human trials of this therapy for macular degeneration, according to researchers from the U.S. National ...