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Retina Clinic

The OneSeoul

Macular Degeneration —missing the right time for exams and treatment can lead to vision loss

Macular degeneration is a retinal disease that causes blurred central vision or straight lines to appear distorted.

Symptoms are often mild in the early stages, so the condition can go unnoticed for a while. However, getting an early exam and starting the right treatment can slow vision loss and lower the risk of blindness. The One Seoul Eye Clinic uses precise retinal exams, including OCT and fundus photography, to accurately diagnose macular degeneration and establish a treatment plan tailored to each patient.

황반변성, 검사와 치료 시기를 놓치면 시력 저하가 진행될 수 있습니다황반변성, 검사와 치료 시기를 놓치면 시력 저하가 진행될 수 있습니다

Signs of macular degeneration —watch for these changes

Straight lines appear bent or brokenStraight lines appear bent or broken

Straight lines appear bent or broken

Central vision looks dim or blurryCentral vision looks dim or blurry

Central vision looks dim or blurry

The center of objects seems to disappearThe center of objects seems to disappear

The center of objects seems to disappear

Macular degeneration treatment tailored to your type,protecting your precious central vision

Treatment strategy differs completely between dry and wet macular degeneration.
Diagnosing the exact type through precise fundus and OCT exams before starting a personalized treatment plan is key to preserving vision.

Dry Macular Degeneration Treatment

Dry Macular Degeneration Treatment

About 85–90% of cases

There is currently no fundamental cure for dry macular degeneration. Taking lutein and zeaxanthin supplements, antioxidants, and protecting your eyes from UV exposure can help minimize progression. Preventive laser treatment may be used to prevent progression to the wet type, and regular fundus and OCT exams are recommended to closely monitor the condition.

Lutein & macular supplementsPreventive laser treatmentRegular fundus/OCT examsAntioxidant intake
Wet Macular Degeneration Treatment

Wet Macular Degeneration Treatment

High risk of vision loss

Wet macular degeneration causes abnormal blood vessels to bleed and leak, rapidly reducing vision. The standard treatment is intravitreal anti-VEGF injections, which suppress abnormal vessel growth, combined with laser photocoagulation and photodynamic therapy (PDT) to preserve and restore vision. Vision can often be maintained or improved without surgery, but repeat treatment is typically needed about once a month.

Intravitreal injectionsLaser photocoagulationPhotodynamic therapy (PDT)Monthly repeat treatment

Dry vs. Wet,what's the difference?

Dry AMD
Wet AMD
Frequency
About 85–90% (majority of cases)
About 10–15%
Key feature
Drusen buildup in the macula, retinal cell atrophy
Abnormal choroidal blood vessel growth, bleeding & leakage
Progression speed
Relatively slow, over several years
Fast (can worsen within days to weeks)
Main symptoms
Blurred central vision, reduced color perception, difficulty reading
Straight lines appear wavy (metamorphopsia), central scotoma, rapid vision loss
Vision loss
Gradual, relatively mild to moderate
Sudden and severe, high risk of blindness
Cause / mechanism
Age-related decline in retinal pigment epithelium function, drusen deposits
Abnormal vessel proliferation and leakage caused by VEGF, etc.
Diagnosis
Fundus exam, OCT (optical coherence tomography)
OCT, fluorescein angiography (FA), OCT angiography
Treatment
No fundamental cure
→ AREDS supplements, lifestyle management, monitoring
Intravitreal anti-VEGF injections (Eylea, Lucentis, etc.),
photodynamic therapy
Prognosis
Progresses slowly; some cases may convert to wet AMD
Vision can be preserved with early treatment; rapid worsening if untreated
Risk factors
Advanced age, smoking, family history, UV exposure, obesity (shared)
Progresses from dry AMD, same shared risk factors
Swipe left or right to see more!

Macular Degeneration with Submacular Hemorrhage — Treatment Case

A treatment case of a patient with macular degeneration who visited with about a quarter of their vision blacked out.

Patient conditionAbout 1/4 of vision appeared blacked out
DiagnosisMacular degeneration with submacular hemorrhage
TreatmentVitrectomy · Submacular anti-VEGF injection · Intraocular gas injection
Before surgery Fundus photoBefore surgery Fundus photoFundus photo
Before surgery OCTBefore surgery OCTOCT

Before surgery

About 1/4 of vision blacked out, with accompanying vision loss

After surgery Fundus photoAfter surgery Fundus photoFundus photo
After surgery OCTAfter surgery OCTOCT

After surgery

Improved vision and stabilized retinal condition confirmed

Treatment result

Before: 0.1 → After: 1.0

After the retinal surgery, a cataract developed and cataract surgery was performed, ultimately restoring vision to 1.0.

※ These are actual photos used with the patient's consent.

How should you
prevent macular degeneration?

Wear sunglasses outdoorsWear sunglasses outdoors

Wear sunglasses outdoors

Protects your eyes from UV rays
to help prevent retinal damage.

Exercise regularlyExercise regularly

Exercise regularly

Staying active supports overall health
and lowers the risk of developing the disease.

Eat vegetables and fruitsEat vegetables and fruits

Eat vegetables and fruits

Eating plenty of leafy greens and fruits
supplies the nutrients your eyes need.

Take antioxidantsTake antioxidants

Take antioxidants

Antioxidant nutrients help protect
retinal cells from aging.

Quit smokingQuit smoking

Quit smoking

Smoking harms retinal health,
so quitting removes a key risk factor for AMD.

Check blood pressure regularlyCheck blood pressure regularly

Check blood pressure regularly

Managing conditions like hypertension
helps prevent complications that can lead to AMD.

Wear sunglasses outdoorsWear sunglasses outdoors

Wear sunglasses outdoors

Protects your eyes from UV rays
to help prevent retinal damage.

Exercise regularlyExercise regularly

Exercise regularly

Staying active supports overall health
and lowers the risk of developing the disease.

Eat vegetables and fruitsEat vegetables and fruits

Eat vegetables and fruits

Eating plenty of leafy greens and fruits
supplies the nutrients your eyes need.

Take antioxidantsTake antioxidants

Take antioxidants

Antioxidant nutrients help protect
retinal cells from aging.

Quit smokingQuit smoking

Quit smoking

Smoking harms retinal health,
so quitting removes a key risk factor for AMD.

Check blood pressure regularlyCheck blood pressure regularly

Check blood pressure regularly

Managing conditions like hypertension
helps prevent complications that can lead to AMD.

Retinal Disease Self-Test

Normal visionAMD patient's vision

  • Get ready

    Wearing your usual glasses or lenses,
    look at the screen in a well-lit room.

  • Keep your distance

    Cover one eye and, from about 30cm away,
    stare at the round dot in the center of the grid.

  • Focus

    Keep your gaze fixed on the center dot
    and check how the surrounding lines appear.

  • Check the result

    Check whether any lines appear wavy or broken.
    (Repeat the same test with the other eye.)

If lines look wavy or broken,
or a dot is hard to see?
This may be a sign of macular degeneration —
please visit us right away for a precise exam.
The OneSeoul

Macular DegenerationFrequently Asked Questions

Q.
What are the
early symptoms of macular degeneration?
A

Central vision may become blurry, straight lines may appear wavy (metamorphopsia), or a blank spot may appear at the center of letters or objects. Colors may also look duller. It helps to test each eye separately by covering the other.

Q.
Can dry macular degeneration turn into the wet type?
A

Yes. In some cases, dry macular degeneration can progress over time into the wet type as new blood vessels form. Even after a dry diagnosis, regular checkups and Amsler grid self-tests are important to catch any change early.

Q.
How many intravitreal injections are needed?
A

Wet macular degeneration is usually treated with monthly injections for the first 3 months, then the interval is extended based on progress. The number of treatments varies by patient depending on new-vessel activity and vision changes, and is decided through regular OCT exams.

Q.
Can macular degeneration be cured?
A

Current medicine can't fully reverse macular degeneration, but treating it at the right time can prevent vision loss and even preserve or improve vision. For the wet type especially, early treatment greatly affects the outcome, so see a doctor promptly if symptoms are suspected.

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