Make certain you know about your choices. We have a list of questions that you can consider as prompts to help you understand – see our list – if you do not know the answers to these questions make sure to discuss with your healthcare provider at your next visit.
Communication between you and your healthcare provider is essential. You should feel comfortable talking about all of your concerns. Feel free to ask any questions about your care. Providers should also welcome questions about their experience and qualifications.
Here are some possible questions for your healthcare provider:
- What tests do I need?
- What initial treatment do you recommend?
- How certain is my diagnosis?
- Is it possible that I have something other than AMD?
- How severe is my condition?
- Do I have early, intermediate, or advanced AMD?
- Do I have wet or dry AMD?
- What goals should we work toward?
- What can I hope to achieve through treatment for my condition?
You may be offered a series of injections of anti-VEGF medicines, these are given into the back of your eye to stop blood vessels growing and this helps control any leaking blood. These initials represent Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and treatment may be referred to as VEGF inhibitors. This treatment is known to be effective in preserving central vision for many. There are some people this treatment may not work for and you may be offered other treatments. You should understand from your provider what the potential side effects of VEGF inhibitors and discuss the risks and complications.
Other treatments for Wet Type AMD
- Thermal Laser photocoagulation. This treatment may be recommended if the is abnormal blood vessel growth that is tightly clustered and also if vision loss comes on quickly.
- Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) uses a laser and medication together with medication that reacts to light being injected into your arm and targets abnormal blood vessels in your eyes when using the laser.
For these treatments, discuss exactly what is involved, why these treatments are right for you, what home care you need to follow after the procedure, and be certain to understand the risks and complications of these therapies.
- Do I have other options?
- Do I need supplements for AMD?
- What are the possible side effects of these supplements?
- Can these supplements interact with other medications I am taking?
- What other nonmedication treatments do you recommend? Why?
- Do I need to avoid any activities, such as driving?
- What vision-assistive devices do you recommend?
- What low-vision rehabilitation program do you recommend?
- What home monitoring should I do?
- How often should I come in for checkups?
- How often will I need a dilated eye exam?
- How often do you treat patients for AMD?
- How much experience do you have with each possible treatment?
- What are your personal success rates for each possible treatment?
- Will I need additional treatment going forward once this course of recommended treatment is completed?
