Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

NHS Form

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NHS Form

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What is Wet AMD?

Age-related macular degeneration is a disease causing progressive damage to the macula, the central area of the retina. It is the most common cause of visual impairment in people over the age of sixty-five. There are two types of macular degeneration; wet and dry.

Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration (Wet AMD) occurs in response to retinal vascular leakage. Abnormal blood vessels grow beneath the retina, like weeds growing up through the cracks in a pavement. These new blood vessels leak fluid or blood into part of the retina, known as the macula.

Without treatment, this process results in the formation of a scar severely damaging the central vision. The scar may take some time to form, but once established all retinal tissue in the area is damaged, leaving a large central blind spot.

Wet AMD vs Dry AMD

Dry AMD is more common and less severe than Wet AMD. In the early stages, symptoms of Dry AMD can be subtle, with patients experiencing blurry vision or reduced contrast sensitivity. In late stage dry AMD central vision can be lost. 10-15% of people with dry age-related macular degeneration also develop the wet form of the disease.

Wet AMD is much less common but it tends to be more aggressive, causing greater and more rapid visual loss. Patients will experience significant central vision loss, objects may appear wavy, and vision-related quality of life can be significantly impacted.

Macular degeneration cannot be reversed once this has occurred but injections can be given to stabilise slow progression.

How is Wet AMD Treated?

Treatment for Wet AMD has been revolutionised by the development and application of anti-VEGF injection therapies. It was in 2005 that the first injections were performed in the United Kingdom and Wet AMD was, for the first time, recognised as a treatable condition with a realistic prospect of visual improvement.

What are Anti-VEGF Injections?

Neovascular AMD (age-related macular degeneration), also called Wet AMD, is a condition where abnormal, leaky blood vessels grow under the retina in the eye, causing vision loss. This happens because of too much of a protein called VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), which promotes the growth of these unwanted vessels.

Neovascular AMD injections are treatments where special medicines called anti-VEGF drugs (like ranibizumab, bevacizumab, aflibercept and faricimab) are injected directly into the eye. These injections block VEGF, stopping the growth and leakage of abnormal blood vessels to help preserve vision.

The Treatment Process

The injection procedure involves numbing the eye with drops, cleaning the area with antiseptic, and then using a very fine needle to deliver the medicine into the eye. The process is quick, usually less than 20 seconds, and most people feel only mild discomfort similar to a blood test.

Patients typically start with a series of monthly injections (often three or more) called a loading dose, followed by regular treatments based on how well the eye responds. These injections can significantly improve or stabilise vision but may need to be repeated several times a year.

Is Wet AMD Available on the NHS?

At Optegra, we offer Wet AMD treatment on the NHS at our Eye Hospital in Manchester and Yorkshire.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is made by a qualified medical retina consultant. A highly trained ophthalmologist specialising in conditions impacting the retina. If your optometrist/optician suspects you have Wet AMD they will refer you urgently to be assessed by the consultant and a diagnosis confirmed. Optegra follows national guidelines ensuring review and treatment is within two weeks. .

The consultant uses a series of baseline assessments (OCT imagery, visual acuity, patient reported symptoms) to make a diagnosis. Treatment will commence quite quickly to ensure vision is preserved as best as possible.

Symptoms that warrant urgent referral for diagnosis of neovascular (wet) AMD include:

Sudden worsening of vision
Distortion of vision, such as straight lines appearing wavy or bent
Dark spots or shadows in the central vision (like a curtain or smudge)
Difficulty seeing fine details, reading, or recognizing faces
Colours appearing faded or less bright
Flickering or flashing lights
Sensitivity to bright light or glare
New visual hallucinations (seeing things that aren’t there)

Referral

Our NHS referral system is simple to use. Patients require only a referral from their optician or GP. Once Optegra receives the referral, we will telephone / email or send you a letter with your appointment details, and an important health questionnaire and a registration form.

Am I Eligible for Wet AMD Treatment?

Wet AMD treatment can be offered on the NHS to the great majority of patients who would benefit from treatment. There are national criteria based on an assessment of your vision and OCT scan of the eye which your consultant will check before proceeding with treatment on the NHS.

Clinic Locations

At Optegra, we provide Wet AMD treatment at our Manchester Eye Hospital and Yorkshire Eye Hospital.

Why Choose Optegra for Wet AMD Treatment

There are many reasons why patients opt for Optegra to have their NHS Wet AMD treatment:

Be seen quickly, within 2 weeks of referral, instead of waiting much longer on the NHS.
Free Wet AMD treatment is paid for by the NHS, assessed by one of our expert consultants and treatment administered by our highly experienced specialist nurses..
Be treated in our luxurious dedicated eye hospital in Manchester and Yorkshire. Our facilities only treat eyes, so we are true specialists in AMD treatment.
Easy referral: Get a referral from your GP or optometrist, and you can be treated quickly at our Manchester or Yorkshire Eye Hospital.
We are focused on patient-centred care and have excellent feedback on patient review platforms like Trustpilot and Doctify.
We have state-of-the-art equipment used to assess your eyes and conduct our treatment.
We are regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The Results of Wet AMD Treatment & Potential Risks

With treatment, on average a small improvement may be seen in the vision in the first six months. With regular review and treatment this improvement in vision can be maintained for many years. A slow decline can occur with age despite treatment but the decline would be much worse and quicker without treatment.

All treatments can have side effects and some patients may not respond to treatment. The main significant risk is infection in the eye which we take every precaution against because it can make the sight worse. At Optegra our infection rate is much less than the national average.

Wet AMD Treatment Aftercare

The specialist nurse who does your treatment will advise you on aftercare and precautions you need to take. Lubricant drops can be used for comfort if needed, otherwise no other drops are used as routine.