Groundbreaking eye treatments available

“We’ve had treatments for ‘wet’ macular degeneration for 10 years and these drugs have more than halved the blindness rate,”
OPSM Waurn Ponds principal optometrist Rowan Prendergast said.
“However, for the majority of AMD patients, there has been little potential, apart from monitoring their vision loss.
“Now we finally have the possibility of treatment options, and we’re keen to assess and refer people who meet the criteria.”
Dry AMD treatment is injected into the eye treatments vitreous, similar to wet AMD injections.
The trials will compare efficacy of injections every four versus six or eight weeks, and the slow-release form which is injected much less frequently, every three months.
The three trials will be conducted over two years.
Researchers will measure the success of the drug by measuring the size, rate of growth and number of atrophic holes in each patient’s macula.
Patients eligible for the studies can have available dry AMD in one or both eyes, but people with early disease are not eligible.
If local residents wish to take part, an initial assessment at OPSM Waurn Ponds can determine their eligibility for the studies.
This examination can be bulk-billed apart from one component, which costs $60.
For further information about the clinical trails, email Rowan Prendergast at [email protected].
To book an initial assessment, contact OPSM Waurn Ponds on 5243 9288.