What Does Sensory organs Mean?

New methods of treatment are emerging to fight macular degeneration which is one of the leading causes of severe vision loss in adults in the US and the developed world.

The new drugs include Macugen from Pfizer/Eyetech, Retaane from Alcon, Kenalog and Lucentis. Macugen (Pegaptanib Sodium) is a new novel drug that targets the body?s destructive signals that cause abnormal blood vessels to grow. This drug works by targeting the protein involved in the growth of abnormal blood vessels. A doctor injects this drug into the vitreous fluid in the eye after numbing it. Macugen stops the formation of new blood vessels and decreases leakage from existing blood vessels. This treatment is repeated every six weeks helps to prevent further loss of vision.

Retaane (Anecortave Acetate) is a synthetic steroid that targets destructive processes that cause abnormal blood vessels to grow in the eye and also blocks multiple destructive signals.

Kenalog (Triamcinolone) is a steroid used to astaxanthin treat eye inflammation and swelling. Research is going on to determine whether injections of this drug might also improve vision for people affected by macular degeneration.

Another promising drug is Lucentis (Ranibizumab). Lucentis also works by impeding growth of abnormal blood vessels in the eye. This drug shows promise in not only preventing further vision loss but also in reversing the effects of macular degeneration. This drug is presently in clinical trials and is expected to be available for prescription only by the first quarter of 2007.

According to Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), a daily supplement of 500 milligrams (mg) of vitamin C, 400 international units (IU) of vitamin E, 15 mg of beta carotene (often as vitamin A ? up to 25,000 IU), 80 mg of zinc (as zinc oxide), and 2 mg of copper (as cupric oxide) can reduce the risk of advancing to moderate to severe vision loss by up to 25 percent. For people with moderate to advanced macular degeneration, this study indicates that intake of high doses of zinc, beta carotene, and vitamins C and E is effective in reducing the risk of further vision loss.

Research into new ways of treating macular degeneration is an ongoing process and new advances keep getting reported. It is advisable to consult a doctor periodically to know whether new treatments have been introduced.