Robot-directed radiation therapy can improve treatment of age-related macular degeneration People who received radiation needed a quarter fewer injections in their eye The procedure saves money and reduces patient hassle THURSDAY, June 12, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Robot-guided radiation therapy can improve treatment for age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of vision loss and blindness among American seniors, a new study shows. Precisely targeted radiation treatment reduced by a quarter the number of routine injections needed to treat wet-type (AMD), the most advanced and serious form of the disorder, researchers reported June 11 in journal. “With this purpose-built robotic system, we can be incredibly precise, using overlapping beams of radiation to treat a very small lesion in the back of the eye,” said lead researcher , a consultant ophthalmic surgeon at King’s College Hospital in London.
Wet AMD occurs when new, abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina. These vessels leak blood and other fluid, causing scarring of the macula -- the center of the retina -- and rapid vision loss. Standard treatment for wet AMD involves injections of drugs that inhibit the growth of new blood vessels in the eye.
Most patients require an injection every one to three months to keep fluid from building up, researchers said. “Patients generally accept that they need to have eye injections to help preserve their vision, but frequent hospital attendance and repeated eye i.
