Macular Degeneration Treatment in Arizona

Home Services Retina Macular Degeneration

Protect Your Central Vision

Macular degeneration affects the macula, the part of the retina responsible for detailed central vision. It can make reading, driving, recognizing faces, and completing close-up tasks more difficult.

Age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, may develop without noticeable symptoms at first. As it progresses, you may experience:

Blurry or dim central vision
Straight lines that appear wavy
A dark or missing area near the center of your vision
Difficulty recognizing faces
Reduced color brightness
A need for a brighter reading light
Trouble seeing fine details

Contact an eye doctor promptly if you notice sudden distortion, central blurring, or a new dark area in your vision. These changes may indicate wet AMD or another retinal condition requiring prompt evaluation.

Older patient receives an OCT retinal scan as part of macular degeneration treatment planning at Southwestern Eye Center.

Types of Macular Degeneration

Older woman paints desert flowers on an Arizona patio, illustrating the daily activities supported by macular degeneration treatment.

Dry Macular Degeneration

Dry AMD usually progresses gradually as cells in the macula deteriorate. Care may include regular monitoring, lifestyle guidance, and AREDS2 supplements for patients who meet specific clinical criteria.

Wet Macular Degeneration

Wet AMD develops when abnormal blood vessels grow beneath the retina and leak blood or fluid. This form can cause rapid changes in vision and usually requires prompt treatment.

Geographic Atrophy

Geographic atrophy is an advanced form of dry AMD that causes progressive loss of retinal cells. Newer treatments may slow its progression for some patients, but they cannot restore vision that has already been lost.

Macular Degeneration Treatment Options

Your treatment plan will depend on the type and stage of AMD, your retinal imaging, your overall eye health, and how the condition changes over time.

Dry Macular Degeneration Treatment

Early dry AMD may only require regular retinal exams and home monitoring. Your doctor may also recommend quitting smoking, staying active, managing blood pressure, and eating a balanced diet.

AREDS2 supplements may help slow progression for certain patients with intermediate or advanced AMD. They do not prevent AMD, cure the condition, or restore lost vision.

The National Eye Institute explains who may benefit from AREDS2 supplements. Ask your eye doctor before beginning an eye vitamin.

Patients with geographic atrophy may qualify for injection-based treatment designed to slow its progression. A retina specialist can determine whether this treatment is appropriate and available based on your diagnosis.

Wet Macular Degeneration Treatment

Anti-VEGF eye injections are the primary treatment for wet AMD. These medications help control abnormal blood vessels and reduce leakage beneath the retina.

Treatment may stabilize vision, slow additional loss, and sometimes improve vision, although results vary. Some patients need ongoing injections and retinal imaging. Your retina specialist will determine the appropriate schedule based on disease activity and your response

Diagnosing and Monitoring AMD

Southwestern Eye Center eye doctor points to a visual acuity chart during a macular degeneration treatment evaluation with an older patient.

A macular degeneration evaluation may include:

A dilated retinal examination
Visual acuity testing
Optical coherence tomography, or OCT
Retinal photography
An Amsler grid
Additional blood vessel imaging when needed

These tests help your eye doctor identify the type and stage of AMD, detect fluid or bleeding, and determine whether treatment or closer monitoring is appropriate.

An Amsler grid can help you notice changes between appointments. Contact your eye doctor if its lines suddenly appear wavy, blurry, broken, or missing. The grid does not diagnose AMD or replace regular retinal examinations.

Support for Changing Vision

Macular degeneration treatment cannot always reverse vision loss. However, brighter task lighting, magnification, contrast adjustments, accessible technology, and other macular degeneration vision aids may make daily activities easier.

Patients with more advanced changes may also benefit from low vision treatment options designed to support safety and independence.

Woman uses a high-contrast tablet and task lighting while preparing a meal, illustrating vision support alongside macular degeneration treatment at Southwestern Eye Center.

Find a Macular Degeneration Specialist in Arizona

Eye doctor walks through a bright clinic with an older woman as they smile and talk.

Southwestern Eye Center connects patients with retina specialists experienced in diagnosing and treating macular degeneration. Specialty retina care is available at select locations across Arizona.

Because services vary by office, review the Southwestern Eye Center location directory or contact our team for help finding the appropriate location and provider.

Schedule an appointment with Southwestern Eye Center if you have noticed changes in central vision, need an AMD evaluation, or require ongoing monitoring.

FAQ: Macular Degeneration Treatment

There is currently no cure for macular degeneration. Treatment may slow progression, control disease activity, preserve remaining vision, or help patients adapt to permanent changes.

Anti-VEGF eye injections are the primary treatment for wet AMD. These medications help reduce leakage from abnormal blood vessels beneath the retina.

Care may include monitoring, lifestyle guidance, and AREDS2 supplements for appropriate patients. Some patients with geographic atrophy may qualify for treatment designed to slow progression.

Treatment frequency depends on the medication, retinal imaging, disease activity, and your eye’s response. Your retina specialist will create an individualized treatment schedule.

No. AREDS2 supplements do not restore lost vision or cure AMD. They may reduce the risk of progression for patients who meet specific clinical criteria.

Contact an eye doctor promptly for new wavy lines, sudden central blurring, a dark or missing area in your vision, or a noticeable change on an Amsler grid.