Greater Milwaukee Area Health Guide 2026-2027

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H OW T REATMENTS fORA L EADING C AUSE Of B LINDNESS H AvE I MPROvED sels, but they often harmed healthy tissue and rarely restored vision. Photodynamic therapy (PDT), introduced in the late 1990s, used a light-activated drug and laser to target vessels more precisely.While safer, it generally only slowed disease progression. A major breakthrough came in the early 2000s with the discovery of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a protein that stimu lates abnormal blood vessel growth.Anti-VEGF medica tions were developed to

ge-related macular degen eration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness among older adults in the United States. It affects the macula, the part of the eye responsible for sharp central vision needed for activi ties such as reading, driving, and recognizing faces. Over the past three decades, treatment for AMD—particularly the more severe “wet” form—has improved dramatically, trans forming it from a condition that often led to severe vision loss into one that can frequently be managed effectively. Wet AMD occurs when abnor mal blood vessels grow beneath the retina and leak fluid or blood, damaging the macula and impairing vision. In the 1980s and 1990s, laser treatments were used to burn these ves

block this protein.The first was approved in 2004, followed by drugs such as Lucentis (ranibizumab) and Avastin (bevacizumab), the latter offer ing similar effectiveness at lower cost.These treatments not only slowed vision loss but often improved vision. Administered through periodic eye injections, newer drugs like Eylea, Beovu, and Vabysmo allow longer intervals between treatments. Researchers are also exploring gene therapies that could provide long-lasting bene fits from a single procedure. Thanks to these advances, many people with wet AMD can now maintain their vision and quality of life.

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2026-27