Dr. Francis DeCroos, Southeastern Retina Associates; member, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical SocietyQ: Can lasers improve my macular degeneration?
A: Various laser therapies have been used in the past for wet age related macular degeneration. Though these laser therapies had some modest benefit, laser therapy is not considered first line therapy for most patients. This is because the various laser therapies did not improve vision in most patients.
However, certain select patients may benefit from therapy combining certain types of laser and other treatments. Dry age related macular degeneration does not currently have any FDA approved treatments, and laser has not been shown to be beneficial for patients with dry age related macular degeneration.
– Dr. Francis DeCroos, Southeastern Retina Associates; member, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society