Macular degeneration treatments have improved in the last several years largely because this eye disease has become one of the leading causes of blindness in people 50 years of age and older.
With two forms of the eye disease, macular degeneration that is referred to as the "wet" form of this eye disease is treated with anti-VEGF drugs.
These drugs such as Avastin and Lucentis are injected directly into the eye.
Wet AMD is characterized by the formation of abnormal blood vessel growth as well as leakage.
Treatments such as anti-VEGF drugs halt the growth of these abnormal blood vessels and the leakage.
Wet AMD accounts for approximately 10 percent of the diagnosed cases, but results in 90 percent of the blindness from this eye disease.
Dry macular degeneration occurs when drusen forms on the eye.
This is the most common form of this eye disease, accounting for 90 percent of diagnosed cases and resulting in only 10 percent of the blindness.
There is no treatment for dry AMD but dietary supplements have been shown to slow the progression of this form of the eye disease.
With the increase in the number of seniors on the rise, research into new treatments for macular degeneration has become one of the fastest growth areas.
Research continues and there have been considerable advancements made in the anti-VEGF drugs as other pharmaceutical companies join the fight against this disease.
Other researchers are studying drugs known as angiostatic corticosteroids, while others are exploring more advanced forms of photodynamic therapy.
However, the most promising treatment for macular degeneration comes from advancement in using human stem cells.
Eye diseases such as ARMD damage the retina, in particular the eye disease destroys central vision.
Human retinas damaged by this disease are unable to repair themselves.
However, a report by researchers from the University of Washington suggests that the regeneration of damaged retinal cells may be possible using human stem cells.
Using human embryonic stem cells and proteins to enable cell growth, researchers were able to grow cells that became progenitor cells for retinal cells.
Injecting these cells into a damaged mouse retina, these stem cells continued to develop into cones - retinal cells responsible for color.
They also developed into rods - the cells that allow night vision.
These stem cells also continued to develop into other retinal cells.
With this research, scientists hope to measure the nerve reactions and determine if vision improved.
If this proves to be successful, human tests using stem cells to repair retinas damaged by macular degeneration could occur within two or three years.