Macular degeneration is the most common cause of blindness in Australians over the age of 65. It comes in two main forms known as wet macular degeneration and dry macular degeneration. Whilst wet macular degeneration can cause sudden loss of vision overnight, this form of the disease can readily be treated with injections into the eyes.
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Unfortunately, the dry form, which is more common, is a more insidious disease developing over years. Up until recently there has been no form of intervention which can slow down the progression of the disease, although various dietary modifications and vitamin supplementation has been the only mainstay of treatment with no proven efficacy.
Australian laser company Ellex, based in Adelaide, have developed a new laser called 2RT that shows the most promising hope for patients with this condition.
This laser, which has been in development for the last ten years or more has undergone rigorous research is a safe treatment that holds great promise in slowing down the progression of the dry form.
Whilst the treatment is not yet proven, given that it will take many more years to evaluate its efficacy, this treatment is available now at Newcastle Eye Centre. 2RT is a nanosecond subthermal laser which is a painless procedure that doesn't cause any scaring in the retina.
There are only four commercial 2RT lasers in Australia and we are proud to have one here in Newcastle. Dr Hollenbach a macular specialist at Newcastle Eye Centre has been performing this procedure now for three years on many hundreds of patients in Newcastle with early signs of macular degeneration which is seen clinically and known as drusen deposits in the macula.
These are tiny yellow spots of pigmented material in the macula which builds up over time and leads to more florid disease in time in most people who are seen to have these deposits. The 2RT laser can shrink these deposits down and so hopefully slows down the progression to sight threatening macular degeneration.
"Macular degeneration has reached epidemic proportions in our elderly folk in Australia over the age of 70 or 80 and can cause up to 50% of blindness in this age group. People with advanced disease lose their central vision, but often there are early signs of macular degeneration much earlier in the 50's and 60's, before central visual loss is experienced. It is at this stage that 2RT laser seems to have its greatest benefit. In other words, we are targeting people who have the early forms of the disease, before they lose vision."
For more information, call Newcastle Eye Centre: 4929 5969 or visit: www.neweye.com.au.
