Wet Macular Degeneration

My mum had this, I was with her when she had the injections in her eyes, she didn’t feel a thing, no wincing etc.

She had it for many years, and described it as having a little black spot in the middle of her vision, which slowly increased with size over the years.

It all happened very slowly.

(I have got dry Macular Degeneration, and I always feel anxious when I have the eye scans.)

Thank you GG. Phew.

Is there treatment for yours?

My friend had this as well, she said after the first injection she didn't feel them anymore, she had treatment for about 12months and then they said she didn't need them anymore. But did have some problems with the other eye a few months ago.

Kittylester did the optician refer you to the eye clinic at the hospital?
Eight months ago my optician, after doing scans and eye tests, suspected that I have glaucoma. However she referred me to the eye clinic where I was seen by a consultant. He tested and found no trace of glaucoma. His comment was that opticians refer people quite often, but mostly there is no cause for concern. But they are always happy to examine the person's eyes.
I have dry macular degeneration, but it's slow to develop. My oldest friend has dry in one eye and wet in the other. She has the injections and is doing well.
I suggest perhaps you should ask for a second opinion. Best wishes.

kittylester

Thank you GG. Phew.

Is there treatment for yours?

Not at the moment, I am taking macushield as recommended by the optician.

I had an eye test last week it has deteriorated slightly, I think when it becomes wet I will have to go down the injection route.

Yes, Aldom, she is going to refer me.

My mum had it and like one of the responders, she had the injections to her eyes. She too did not feel a thing and they did improve her sight, although not totally. This was some years ago now, so they have perhaps improved the treatment to be more effective. Good luck and let us know how you get on!

I've a friend in her nineties who has had at least 50 injections. Appointments have sometimes been late, which hasn't helped, but she can still see well enough to cope, watch the television and read a little at a time.

The injections don't hurt, I understand, due to them giving a local anaesthetic. When that wears off it seems that my friend's eye feels like it has gravel in it - uncomfortable rather than painful. By the next morning it is back to normal.

The injections aren't a nice thought, but are worthwhile. I hope they help you.

I have wet MD in my left eye.
I also had another condition which I can’t recall the name of.
I had laser treatment for that which helped.
However after 18 months of injections my sight didn’t improve and I now have very minimal peripheral sight in that eye.
I was offered different types of injections which varied enormously in cost.
I hate to say I was encouraged to have the cheapest treatment but I was.
If it were now I would refuse and go for the best.
I now have dry MD in my right eye but hopefully it will “ see me out”.
All good wishes kitty and as others have said the injections are nothing like as bad as they sound, honestly.

DH is going down this road. He’s had the first four injections in both eyes. Immediately after he has lots of floaters but it settles down overnight. He saw the consultant today four weeks later and had another injection today in each eye which he wasn’t expecting. We are blessed with the Sunderland Eye Infirmary which I believe is second only to Moorfields. My fil was an eye consultant and I find it rather cruel that DH knowing so much about what could go wrong has had this. I think after the first injection have strong pain killers on hand in case of need. Phlegmatic stoicism is the way to go I think. I hope all goes well.

Try typing "Macular Society" into your search engine. They may have a presence near you, or would certainly be happy to talk to you on their helpline. Not sure whether I can give out their number on GN but you should be able to find it online with a simple search.

My Mum had injections until well into her nineties and was always fine with them.

Unfortunately she was diagnosed too late to save the sight in one eye (her fault because she always soldered on refusing to see any doctors) but the other one stopped getting any worse

Thank you all for your input. Much more reassuring that I first thought.

My Dad had the injections and said there was no pain whatsoever and actually used to look forward to his day out at the eye clinic
Grannybgs just the same as my Dad he lost the sight in one eye before it was diagnosed but was so grateful he had one saved and managed wonderfully until he suddenly died of cancer that no one knew he had …at 92

I second the advice to contact the Macular Society. They have treatment buddies who can talk you through the whole process. As well they have the latest information on treatment, on aids that can help when/ if you need them and how to keep yourself healthy. Equally I would advise that you ask if the hospital has an eye clinic liason officer. If so that person will provide the link between the hospital and social services in your area.

Why would I need Social Services?#panicking now.

My sister has the injections regularly and does not seem to have any problem with them.
She has her treatment in Germany but I presume it is the same as here.
I didn't know that about Sunderland eye infirmary Stansgran, I worked there in the 1960s.

Sorry to scare you kitty please don't panic. Social services can supply some aids free of charge . You most likely don't need them currently or may not at all but I thought it might be helpful. I volunteered with the Macular Society for 15 years and most people I saw were in the later stages of the condition. Sorry again, too much information.

Phew, thanks for the reassurance!

The hospital have arranged for DH to have an appointment to see if there are various aids to help. Our computer man got us a big screen and sat with him changing size and colour to find what suited him. He now has a black screen with white print which I have to adjust to read. He’s doing an on line course from Oxford at the moment. It’s astonishing how many people have eye injections Kitty. You are not alone.i think I agree about the shudders .

You need to get treatment asap to try and stop it in its tracks.
I have dry Macular and have been taking part in an eye trial for 5 years, which stopped in December.

I have what is called geographic atrophy in my left eye. I was offered treatment for life, but I turned it down because, after careful consideration and agreement with my ophthalmologist, the risks outweighed the benefits.

I had no pain from the injections to start with, but in the last year, my eye became very sensitive, but the pain was for a split second. Dry Macular is not normally treated with injections but this trial worked but NICE will not pay because of the expense

My husband has wet MD in both eyes now. He started his in one eye - but recently has to have injections in both. At least he can get treatment for his condition and it is not so scary as it sounds. He is getting regular treatment - although the MD is not curable.