Can laser photocoagulation be used to treat macular degeneration? i was recently diagnosed with the "dry" form of macular degeneration. is having laser photocoagulation a treatment option available to me, and would this prevent further vision loss?

There : There are two main classifications of macular degeneration: dry and wet. The dry form is generally less debilitating, slower progressing and more common. The wet form generally has a much more profound effect on vision, is faster in its progression, fortunately less common and can vary greatly in treatment response. Treatment for the wet form can range from laser, a procedure called photodynamic therapy, injections into the eye (a relatively new form of treatment) and surgery. Now, treatment for the dry form is more controversial. It can range from simple observation, controlling one's lipid profile and a specific vitamin therapy. A type of laser procedure called ttt (transpupillary thermotherapy) has been used but with little success and traditional laser photocoagulation is not the procedure of choice for dry macular degeneration. Hope this helps.

There : There is no firm evidence that laser will prevent progression of vision loss with dry macular degeneration. There have been studies that showed that the drusen (yellow spots in the macula), when treated with laser, decreased in number. It is not known for sure what that means for the future of vision in these patients.

Standard : Standard of therapy for dry form of degeneration is observation. For the wet form of this condition there are several treatment options, one of which is laser photcoagulation.

Laser no help: Laser for dry macular degeneration has been studied well. Laser to the macula of dry amd patients makes drusen go away, so it looks better on exam. The laser does not change whether or not there is vision loss. Vitamin supplementation is the only proven preventive therapy, and reduces the risk of vision loss by about 25%. The vitamin formula now recommended is called areds 2 formula.