Macular Degeneration (cont.)
Medical Author:
Andrew A. Dahl, MD, FACS
Andrew A. Dahl, MD, FACSAndrew A. Dahl, MD, is a board-certified ophthalmologist. Dr. Dahl's educational background includes a BA with Honors and Distinction from Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, and an MD from Cornell University, where he was selected for Alpha Omega Alpha, the national medical honor society. He had an internal medical internship at the New York Hospital/Cornell Medical Center. Medical Editor:
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACRDr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology. In this Article
 What research is being done on macular degeneration?There is a large amount of research currently being performed to increase our understanding of the basic molecular mechanisms of macular degeneration. These include evaluation of families with a history of AMD to understand genetic and hereditary factors that may cause the disease. There are multiple drugs and devices presently in various phases of clinical trials to both prevent and treat macular degeneration. These include new drugs to prevent new blood vessel formation, certain anti-inflammatory treatments for the wet form of AMD, and drug-delivery systems to reduce the need for frequent injections for the wet form of macular degeneration. The possibility of transplantation of transplanting healthy cells into a diseased retina is also being investigated. This research should provide better ways to detect, treat, and prevent vision loss in people with AMD. REFERENCES: Reviewed by William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR on 5/20/2011 Patient CommentsViewers share their comments
Macular Degeneration - Signs
Question: What were your signs and symptoms of macular degeneration?
Macular Degeneration - Age
Question: How old were you when you received a diagnosis of macular degeneration?
Macular Degeneration - Risk Factors
Question: If you or a relative has macular degeneration, what were the risk factors?
Macular Degeneration - Treatment
Question: If you've been diagnosed with wet macular degeneration, what types of treatment have you received?
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