Retina Associates is nationally known and highly respected medical practice in Tucson, Arizona, led by Dr. Cameron Javid. He and his experienced team offer compassionate, personalized care for eye conditions affecting the retina, vitreous, and macula. Among Retina Associates’ areas of extensive knowledge is age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and the practice offers anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) injections and photodynamic therapies (PDT) for this condition. In addition, several new medications in clinical trials are available.

1. Photodynamic Therapy For Treating
Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Retina Associates

2. Introduction
• Retina Associates is nationally known and highly respected medical
practice in Tucson, Arizona, led by Dr. Cameron Javid. He and his
experienced team offer compassionate, personalized care for eye
conditions affecting the retina, vitreous, and macula. Among Retina
Associates’ areas of extensive knowledge is age-related macular
degeneration (AMD) and the practice offers anti-VEGF (vascular
endothelial growth factor) injections and photodynamic therapies
(PDT) for this condition. In addition, several new medications in
clinical trials are available.
The macula is the area at the retina’s center that enables fine details
to be clearly visualized and complex tasks performed, from reading
to threading a needle. AMD entails a breakdown of the macula.
There are two forms of AMD, dry and wet. The wet form of the
condition involves leakage of blood and other fluids into the macula.

3. Photodynamic Therapy
• The consequence is a significant blind spot in the center
of the field of vision or distortion of images.
The photodynamic therapy, (cold laser) approach
includes the use of a light-activated medication that is
typically injected through a vein in the arm. It reaches
the abnormal blood vessels in the macula’s center and
accumulates there, at which point it is activated by a
retina-targeted, low-intensity laser light. The normal
blood vessels are left intact, while the abnormal blood
vessels are treated. A key advantage of the PDT approach
is that it targets only those blood vessels experiencing
leakage and leaves the functioning portion of the retina
alone.