Shown to occur in 18 percent of patients over a five year period, the development of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) has been determined the cause of vision loss in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Furthermore, it has been determined that since there are successful treatments available for CNV before there are visual changes, if it is detected early enough, vision loss due to AMD can be mitigated.

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Since treating CNV once damage and vision loss have occurred is not a successful method of restoring vision or reversing damage to the macula in most people, early detection in AMD patients is crucial to maintaining functional vision. By the time changes in vision are noticed by patients, permanent damage has already occurred. Clinical evidence has sufficiently proven that treatments of small AMD lesions has been highly successful, so the earliest possible detection provides the best outcomes in AMD patient management.

Early detection of AMD requires sophisticated equipment and testing processes if sight preservation is to be successful, due to the rapid progression. According to an article published in Retina Today and written by Anat Loewenstein, M.D., early detection “…means a significant gain of vision for most patients.” Not only can this outcome preserve quality of life for the aging population, Loewenstein details that it can generate savings into the billions of dollars annually just in Medicare for people suffering significant vision loss.

With early detection being crucial in AMD patient management, incorporating Optos’ ultra-widefield (UWF) retinal imaging technology into your practice can significantly impact the number of patients with vision loss due to AMD. With a view of up to 82 percent of the retina, multiple modalities, non-invasive scan and sophisticated software that enables image tracking for comparison purposes, you will be able to see more, discover more and treat more effectively.

View our full line of UWF retinal imaging equipment and contact us to learn more about how we can help your practice provide better patient outcomes.