Ophthalmology Department
Telephone: 0121 424 2000
Information for Patients
Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration
You have been diagnosed with Wet age-related macular degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration is a condition affecting the light sensitive portion of the eye - the retina. The central portion of the retina is called the macula. The macula or central portion of the retina is responsible for close or fine vision. When you read, or look at something, you use your macula to see.
Description
Wet age-related macular degeneration is a condition where abnormal blood vessels behind the retina start to grow under the retina. These abnormal blood vessels are called choroidal neovascularisation
(CNV). These blood vessels tend to be very fragile and often leak blood and fluid.
The blood and fluid raise the macula from its normal place. This can cause permanent damage and scaring if left untreated and stop the macular from working properly. With Wet AMD loss of central vision can occur quickly.
Symptoms include:

Blurred vision.

Central or fine vision is affected.

One of the earliest symptoms is wavy lines.

Holes or gaps in the centre of vision develop.
Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration - Information For Patients
Version 2 November 2010 Next Review Date Nov 2013
Page 1 of 5

Information for Patients
Diagnosis
The diagnosis is made by a comprehensive ocular examination. With the pupils of both eyes dilated. This may be followed by a fluorescein angiogram. A fluorescein angiogram consists of a dye injection into a vein in the arm, followed by photographs of the eye. The procedure takes approximately ten minutes. Other tests include ocular coherence tomography (OCT), a type of ultrasound to assess the amount and distribution of fluid in the retina.
Treatment
The treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration is by an
injection of a drug called Lucentis. This treatment is aimed at sealing or stopping the leakage, getting rid of the choroidal neovascularisation and preventing further retinal damage.
The earlier that treatment is performed, the greater the likelihood of success. When the retinal damage has progressed to scar tissue formation, treatment is unlikely to help.
Lucentis is an agent that blocks VEGF. It is given via an injection into the white of eye. VEGF stands for Vascular Endothelial Growth
Factor .
VEGF blocking drugs stop the growth of choroidal neovascularisation.
Lucentis has been proven for patients being treated that their vision can remain stable or improve.
I am going to have Lucentis, what does this mean?
Lucentis is of proven benefit in those who have choroidal neovascularisation. It is given via an injection into white of the eye.
The injection is given every month for 3 months.
The injection is performed with the aid of local anaesthetic in the form of eye drops. It is performed either in the treatment room of the out patients department or in an operating theatre. The injection takes no more than a few minutes.
After the injection, your vision will be blurred and your eye may be slightly red and sore. These effects will soon disappear.
Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration - Information For Patients
Version 2 November 2010 Next Review Date Nov 2013
Page 2 of 5

Information for Patients
Lucentis being injected into the eye
What is the risk of Lucentis?
The administration involves an injection into the eye. Minor problems such as redness, mild soreness and blurred vision are usually temporary.
High pressure may develop after the injection. Any injection into the eye can be complicated by infection.
If your eye becomes progressively red or sore after the injection, you need to contact the eye clinic. In the long term, repeated ocular injections may increase the development of cataracts.
What do I do after the Lucentis treatment?
You should not rub your eye. You should avoid immersing your eye for 48 hours. You should avoid vigorous exercise for 48 hours. After which you can resume your normal life.
Follow up
Following your 3 rd injection, an appointment will be arranged 4 weeks later where you will have a review in clinic. At this appointment your vision will be tested and an OCT will be performed this is to determine whether you have responded to the treatment.
A decision for a further injection treatment will depend on these results and you will be informed either by a telephone call to arrange a further injection or letter for a further clinic review appointment.
Lucentis treatment is required until the leakage ceases. Occasionally the leakage can stop and some months later recur. This is the reason that you require follow up for 24 months following your first treatment.
You can consider the initial three injections as an induction regime and the remainder of the injections as maintenance treatment, required when there is disease activity.
Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration - Information For Patients
Version 2 November 2010 Next Review Date Nov 2013
Page 3 of 5

Information for Patients
Why can’t I have treatment?
If your vision is below a certain level, treatment is unlikely to help. The retina has no powers of recovery. If the retina is badly damaged by bleeding or scarring, then treatment is not going to change the long term outlook and is of no benefit. If your disease has been present for some time, scarring may well have developed
Long Term Outlook
Wet age-related macular degeneration will progress in the absence of treatment with serious loss of central vision. Peripheral or out and around vision will be preserved (Eccentric Vision)
Will I be able to drive?
Some people with Wet age-related macular degeneration can drive.
However there are some people who cannot continue to drive, as vision is too poor and below the legal limit.
Can I have some new glasses?
During initial injection treatments we do not advise you have new glasses, as your vision may alter month by month. The
Ophthalmology department have opticians who are trained in dispensing glasses and low vision aids such as magnifying glasses once it is advised by medical staff to change your glasses
The department also has an Eye Clinic Liaison Officer based at the
Solihull site who can refer you to the appropriate support services to assist in maintaining your independent living or Focus Birmingham based at Birmingham heartlands hospital who can provide rehabilitation services to enable people to regain confidence and lead their lives as independently as possible
Contact Us:
Emergency number: 0121 424 2000 ask for Bleep no 2489 (Macula Nurse)
Eye clinic Solihull 0121 424 4094
Eye clinic Heartlands 0121 424 0543
Eye clinic Good Hope 0121 424 9608
Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration - Information For Patients
Version 2 November 2010 Next Review Date Nov 2013
Page 4 of 5

Information for Patients
Eye Casualty after 5pm and weekends 0121 507 6780
Our commitment to confidentiality
We keep personal and clinical information about you to ensure you receive appropriate care and treatment. Everyone working in the NHS has a legal duty to keep information about you confidential.
We will always ask you for your consent if we need to use information that identifies you. We will share information with other parts of the
NHS to support your healthcare needs, and we will inform your GP of your progress unless you ask us not to. You can help us by pointing out any information in your records which is wrong or needs updating.
Additional Sources of Information:
You may want to visit our Health Information Centres located at the
Main Entrance at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, Tel: 0121 424
2280, or at the Treatment Centre at Good Hope Hospital Tel: 0121
424 9946 or Email: healthinfo.centre@heartofengland.nhs.uk
NHS Direct
Telephone 0845 4647 or visit them on the Internet at http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
Please use the space below to write down any questions you may want to ask
Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration - Information For Patients
Version 2 November 2010 Next Review Date Nov 2013
Page 5 of 5