FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions About AMD
In this section you'll find frequently asked questions and answers concerning AMD, its diagnosis, and treatment.

Simply click on the question you want answered, or scroll down the page to view all questions and answers.

What is AMD?
What causes AMD?
How many people does AMD affect?
What is the difference between dry and wet AMD?
What are the warning signs of AMD?
What are the risk factors for AMD?
How is AMD detected?
How can I manage dry AMD?
What are my treatment options for wet AMD?
What is Visudyne^® therapy?
How does Visudyne work?
What can I expect from Visudyne?
What safety information should I have about Visudyne?
Can Visudyne therapy help slow the progression of vision loss?
How can patients and practitioners obtain more information about Visudyne therapy?

What is AMD?
AMD is a disease of the retina. There are 2 types of the disease, commonly known as dry and wet. AMD can affect everyday activities such as recognizing faces, reading, and driving a car. In its more severe forms, AMD can cause permanent loss of a person's central vision, leaving only his or her side vision intact.
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What causes AMD?
The exact cause of AMD is unknown. However, many studies have been done to identify AMD risk factors, which include age, smoking, genetics, sun exposure, gender, race, poor nutrition, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. See "What are the risk factors for AMD?" following.
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How many people does AMD affect?
About 25 to 30 million people worldwide are affected by AMD, and the number is expected to triple over the next 25 years. Overall, more than 1.75 million Americans 40 years of age and older suffer from late-stage AMD. Another 7.3 million Americans are at serious risk for vision loss from AMD. As the population ages, more people are at risk for vision loss due to eye diseases; including AMD, glaucoma, and cataracts.
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What is the difference between dry and wet AMD?
AMD appears in 2 forms: dry and wet. Dry AMD is more common and may or may not develop into the wet form at any time.

Dry AMD is characterized by yellowish fatty deposits called drusen that collect in the macula and can cause vision loss of different degrees. Serious vision loss caused by dry AMD is rare.

Only about 10% to 20% of people with AMD have the wet type. Wet AMD strikes quickly, however, and can result in rapid vision loss. This type of AMD is characterized by abnormal, leaky blood vessels in the macula that may progress and create scar tissue, causing permanent blind spots. Though less common, wet AMD is responsible for up to 90% of severe vision loss.
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What are the warning signs of AMD?
A diagnosis of AMD must be made by a healthcare professional. Call your eyecare specialist right away if you experience one or more of the following:

• Lines or edges that appear wavy or distorted
• Blurring of faces and difficulty seeing colors
• Dark or empty spaces that block the center of your vision
• Difficulty with tasks such as reading fine print or reading road signs from a moving vehicle
• Difficulty seeing at a distance or during twilight hours

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What are the risk factors for AMD?
The following are known to be, or strongly suspected of being, risk factors for AMD:

Age. Age itself is a risk factor for AMD. People 65 to 74 years of age have a 1 in 5 chance of developing the disease. People over the age of 75 have a nearly 1 in 3 chance of developing the disease.

Smoking. Studies have shown links between cigarette smoking and increased risk of both wet and dry AMD. Heavy smoking is associated with a 2- to 3-fold increased risk of AMD with vision loss.

Genetics. Family history appears to play a role in AMD. Therefore, people with relatives with the disease should be especially vigilant about having their eyes tested. The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) recommends that patients who have blood relatives with AMD have their eyes checked every 2 years.

Sun Exposure. According to the AAO, studies show that repeated exposure to the sun's rays can contribute to eye disorders that commonly develop with age, including AMD and cataracts.

Gender and Race. AMD is more common in women than in men. Whites are more susceptible to AMD than are people of other races.

High Cholesterol. Elevated serum cholesterol levels have been shown to increase the risk of AMD.

High Blood Pressure. Studies show that hypertension is also a risk factor associated with AMD.
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How is AMD detected?
A diagnosis of AMD must be made by a healthcare professional. Early detection is critical to ensure optimal benefit from treatment.

Many patients with dry AMD have no symptoms. To aid in diagnosis, an exam is given using an ophthalmoscope, a device that lights up the inside of the eye and enlarges the image. This enables the detection of both early and later signs of AMD.

Your eyecare professional may also give you a diagnostic test called a fluorescein angiogram. This procedure is key to the diagnosis and treatment of wet AMD. A fluorescein angiogram allows the eyecare specialist to pinpoint the location and extent of abnormal blood vessel growth, also called choroidal neovascularization.

Another test that may be used to diagnose AMD is optical coherence tomography (OCT). OCT is a tool that provides cross-sectional pictures of the eye. In this test, a beam of infrared light is directed onto the back of the eye. Images are captured using a special camera, a video monitor, and a computer.

An eyecare professional may also use a test called an indocyanine green angiogram. Like a fluoroscein angiogram, this test is used to assess the health of certain blood vessels in the eye. The dye that is used allows leaks to be seen even under a layer of blood.
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How can I manage dry AMD?
In 2001, the National Eye Institute-funded Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) showed that high levels of certain antioxidants and zinc can help reduce the risk of vision loss in people at high risk of developing advanced AMD.

If you have intermediate AMD in one or both eyes or advanced AMD in only one eye, ask your eyecare professional if you should take the AREDS formulation.

If you have any stage of dry AMD, you should have a complete eye exam at least once a year. That way, your eyecare professional can monitor your condition and check for other eye diseases.

Because dry AMD can turn into wet AMD, which can quickly cause vision loss, you should use an Amsler grid to check your vision every day. The grid will help you check for signs of wet AMD. If you notice any changes in the appearance of the grid or in your everyday vision while reading or watching television, get an eye exam right away.

Click here to learn how you can use an Amsler grid.
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What are my treatment options for wet AMD?
Photodynamic therapy with Visudyne. Visudyne therapy is a form of photodynamic therapy (PDT). It brings together a light-activated drug (Visudyne) and the use of a low-energy laser. The laser activates the drug in a targeted area of the eye. This produces a reaction that seals abnormal, leaky blood vessels.

Patients diagnosed with a certain form of wet AMD called predominantly classic wet AMD may be candidates for Visudyne therapy, an FDA-approved form of photodynamic therapy for the eyes.

Other treatment options. There are other drug and laser therapies available to treat wet AMD. Anti-VEGF (anti-vascular endothelial growth factor) treatments block the process that causes the formation of new abnormal blood vessels.
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What is Visudyne therapy?
In April 2000, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Visudyne therapy, the first drug treatment for a certain form of wet AMD. This form of the disease is called predominantly classic wet AMD.

Visudyne therapy is a form of photodynamic therapy. It brings together a light-activated drug (Visudyne) and the use of a low-energy laser. The laser activates the drug in a targeted area of the eye. This produces a reaction that destroys abnormal, leaky blood vessels.
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How does Visudyne work?
First, Visudyne is injected into the bloodstream, usually through a vein in the patient's arm. The drug is quickly absorbed by the abnormal blood vessels in the back of the eye that cause sight loss in wet AMD.

Second—a short time after the drug has been given—a low-energy laser is shone into the affected area of the eye for exactly 83 seconds. This activates the drug and produces a reaction that seals the abnormal blood vessels.
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What can I expect from Visudyne?
Relatively painless, Visudyne therapy is typically performed in a doctor's office on an outpatient basis. You will be unusually sensitive to light for 5 days following Visudyne therapy, so preparing for treatment is key. Your eyecare specialist will give you a list of instructions to follow before and after therapy to minimize the risk of complications.

Visudyne therapy is typically given about every 3 months, if needed to prevent the regrowth of abnormal vessels.

There is no cure for AMD. Visudyne helps destroy existing abnormal blood vessels that can leak and damage sight. Studies have shown that patients who complete a full course of Visudyne therapy are more likely to preserve their vision than are those who have no therapy. Patients and their loved ones need to have realistic expectations for therapy.
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What safety information should I have about Visudyne?
Visudyne therapy is not for everyone. People who have an abnormal sensitivity to light (a condition called porphyria) and those with allergies to any of the ingredients should not receive Visudyne. (Your doctor has a list of the ingredients in Visudyne.) Check with your doctor or healthcare professional to see if you might be allergic to any component of Visudyne therapy. Only your doctor can determine if Visudyne is right for you.

Changes in vision, including blurring, decreased sharpness in vision, and gaps in vision are some of the most commonly reported side effects. Between 1% and 5% of patients experienced a substantial decrease in vision in the first 7 days after treatment, though some patients achieved partial recovery. Patients who experience substantial vision loss should consult their healthcare professional immediately. Injection site reactions and temporary back pain during injection were some of the most commonly reported side effects.

Patients should avoid direct sunlight or bright indoor light for 5 days following therapy with Visudyne.

Patients who have to go outdoors in daylight after treatment must protect all parts of their skin and eyes by wearing protective clothing and dark glasses. Ultraviolet (UV) sunscreens are not effective in protecting against photosensitivity reactions.
Please see full Prescribing Information for Visudyne.
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Can Visudyne therapy help slow the progression of vision loss?
Yes. Studies have shown that patients who complete a full course of Visudyne therapy are more likely to preserve their vision than are those who have not had therapy. There is currently no therapy that will cure AMD. Visudyne helps destroy existing abnormal blood vessels that can leak and damage sight. Patients and their loved ones need to have realistic expectations for therapy.
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How can patients and practitioners obtain more information about Visudyne therapy?
Patients and their loved ones should ask their eye care professional for information about Visudyne and AMD. Practitioners can ask their QOI Sales Representative for patient education and support materials.
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Visudyne is a treatment to help slow the loss of vision in persons with predominantly classic wet AMD.

Important Safety Information

Visudyne therapy is not for everyone. People who have an abnormal sensitivity to light (a condition called porphyria) and those with allergies to any of the ingredients should not receive Visudyne. (Your doctor has a list of ingredients in Visudyne.) Check with your doctor or healthcare professional to see if you might be allergic to any component of Visudyne therapy. Only your doctor can determine if Visudyne is right for you.

Changes in vision, including blurring, decreased sharpness in vision, and gaps in vision are some of the most commonly reported side effects. Between 1% and 5% of patients experienced a substantial decrease in vision in the first 7 days after treatment, though some patients achieved partial recovery. Patients who experience substantial vision loss should consult their healthcare professional immediately. Injection site reactions and temporary back pain during injection were some of the most commonly reported side effects.

Patients should avoid direct sunlight or bright indoor light for 5 days following therapy with Visudyne.

Patients who have to go outdoors in daylight after treatment must protect all parts of their skin and eyes by wearing protective clothing and dark glasses. Ultraviolet (UV) sunscreens are not effective in protecting against photosensitivity reactions.

Please see full Prescribing Information.