“Wherever I look, I see distortions, the poles in the tramway appear crooked”, this is how an age-related macula degeneration – AMD in short – can start.

Today, AMD is the most frequent cause of blinding in humans above the age of 50 years. AMD will spread further through the demographic development. In the EU alone, about 2.8 million cases are expected in the next 10 years.

The causes of the disease are still by and large unknown. The following are discussed as possible risk factors: genetic factors, smoking, high blood pressure, circulatory diseases, lack of vitamins or minerals as well as intense UV light.

It is however clear that: blood vessels that grow from the vein surface of the eye into the retina destroy the sensing cells. Vision is impaired.

Thanks to photo-dynamic therapy, it has now been possible to treat age-related macular degeneration. A photo-dynamic active agent is injected into the bloodstream. It spreads across the newly formed blood vessels.

Laser activation is then carried out. The proliferating blood vessels are closed in this way.

The treatment is repeated in most cases so that the condition may stabilize further.