Wet AMD Treatment - Helios Vision

What is wet AMD?

Wet age-related macular degeneration is caused by abnormal blood vessels growing and leaking under the macula, the central part of the retina. These fragile new vessels leak fluid and blood, which lifts and damages the delicate macula, so central vision can blur or distort over a short period, sometimes within days or weeks.

Wet AMD is the less common but more aggressive form of age-related macular degeneration, and it differs from the slower dry form because of how quickly it can affect sight. Typical symptoms include a sudden change in central vision, straight lines appearing bent or wavy, and a dark or blurred patch in the middle of what you see, while side vision is not affected. Because the damage can progress rapidly, wet AMD is treated as urgent, and starting treatment early gives the best chance of preserving vision. A useful home check is the Amsler grid, which can help you notice distortion between appointments. The condition is confirmed with retinal scans that show the fluid and abnormal vessels. Your consultant will explain the findings and why prompt treatment is so important for your sight.

What wet AMD treatment involves

Mr Paritosh Shah treats wet AMD with a course of anti-VEGF injections to control the leaking vessels. These medicines block the signal that drives the abnormal vessels to grow and leak, helping to dry up the fluid under the macula and stabilise the vision. Treatment usually begins with a series of injections given a few weeks apart, followed by a maintenance phase tailored to how your eye responds. According to the NHS, wet AMD accounts for about 10% of all AMD cases, but it causes 90% of severe vision loss associated with the condition.

Treatment is guided by retinal scans at the clinic in Yeovil, which show whether the fluid is under control and help decide how often injections are needed, so your plan is kept as efficient as possible while still protecting your sight. Each injection is a quick clinic procedure carried out after the eye is numbed and cleaned, and most people tolerate it well. Because wet AMD needs ongoing monitoring, you will be reviewed regularly, and the interval between injections is adjusted over time. Having the same consultant assess your scans and deliver your treatment means your care is closely coordinated, and any change in your condition can be responded to promptly.

What to expect on the day of your treatment

Wet AMD treatment benefits and considerations

Starting treatment early gives the best chance of preserving your central vision, and for many people anti-VEGF injections stabilise wet AMD and prevent further loss, while some regain vision that had begun to fade. Prompt, consistent treatment is the single most important factor in protecting sight from this condition.

The main consideration is that treatment is usually needed long term, because controlling wet AMD depends on keeping the abnormal vessels in check over time rather than on a single course. Results vary between people, and while many eyes stabilise well, some continue to lose vision despite treatment, which your consultant will discuss with you honestly. The injections carry the same small risks as any intravitreal treatment, including irritation, a temporary rise in pressure and, very rarely, a serious infection, and you will be told the warning signs to watch for. Regular monitoring with scans allows treatment to be adjusted to your needs, so you are seen as often as your eye requires and no more. It also helps your consultant spot any change early, whether in the treated eye or the other eye, which is important because wet AMD can develop in the second eye over time. Outcomes cannot be guaranteed, but modern treatment has greatly improved the outlook for wet AMD. If your central vision has changed suddenly, a prompt assessment in Yeovil is strongly advised.