Working with your Doctor
Your eye doctor is your best partner
in protecting your vision. Your eye doctor can help you take control of your disease early, so you can keep the vision you have as long as possible.
Wet AMD is a chronic disease that requires early and regular treatment. It is important to commit to the treatments as prescribed by your doctor. Getting treatment early and keeping up with your treatments are essential to help preserve as much of your vision as possible. The longer you go without treatment, the more vision you may lose.
- In addition to MACUGEN, there are other treatments that retinal physicians may use for wet AMD. If your eye doctor confirms that you have wet AMD, he or she will talk to you about which treatment is right for you. Your eye doctor may even use different treatments at different times. Ask your eye doctor about the length and frequency of any treatment regimen. Also ask your eye doctor about the safety and efficacy of the treatment he or she prescribes over the long term.
It is important to tell your eye doctor about any other medical problems you have, even if they are not related to your eyes. This will help him or her decide on which treatment might be best for you. Examples of some conditions you should mention are:
- Previous myocardial infarction (MI, or heart attack)
- Stroke
- Diabetes
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
It is also important to always tell your eye doctor about any medications you may be on for these or other conditions. These factors may have an effect on which treatment is prescribed. Be sure to discuss the following with your eye doctor:
- Family history of eye disease
- Overall medical history, including other medical conditions
- Current medications
- Vitamins or other supplements
Be sure to stay in touch with your eye doctor to continuously monitor your condition. Your eye doctor may perform one or more of the following procedures or tests to check on your condition:
- Examination of the back of your eye: Your doctor may look at the back of your eye with a special device called an ophthalmoscope and may take pictures of the back of your eye
- Vision Test: Your eye doctor may test your vision with a standard eye chart
- Fluorescein angiography: In this test a special dye is injected into your arm. It allows your doctor to take pictures (not x-rays) of the back of your eye to see if AMD is present
- Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT): This is another type of picture of your eye. It shows a cross section of the back of your eye. This test helps your doctor see any fluid that may be leaking from abnormal blood vessels
Wet AMD can quickly lead to permanent damage to your central vision, so always check with your eye doctor immediately if you notice any changes in your eyesight. If you don’t have an eye doctor, use the Eye Doctor Finder tool on this site to locate one near you.
One way to self-monitor for signs of changes in your eyesight is to do a simple test at home by looking at an “Amsler grid.”
Learn HOW TO USE THE AMSLER GRID
Always ask your retinal physician if you have questions or don’t understand what to expect from the treatment he or she has prescribed. Careful monitoring of any changes to your vision and regular eye exams can help your eye doctor determine the appropriate treatment for your disease.
Learn more about PATIENT EXPERIENCES WITH MACUGEN
To listen to the full prescribing information regarding MACUGEN, please click on the link entitled "Important Safety Information" on the menu bar located on the left of the screen. 
