I have recently been diagnosed with cataracts (cloudy lens) and dry age-related macular degeneration (a breakdown of the tissue in the back of the eye, which reduces central vision). If I have the cataract surgery done now to remove the cloudy lens and have an artificial intraocular lens implanted, will it affect my ability to receive any of the current treatments available for wet AMD in the future?
No, you will still be able to receive all the currently approved therapies for wet AMD. You may also benefit from treatment with vitamins as established by the Age-Related Eye Diseases Study 2 (AREDS-2)depending on the level of your dry AMD. Also, the best available evidence suggests that cataract surgery does not accelerate the progression of dry AMD. It is difficult to know what future therapies will be developed, but it is unlikely that future therapies will be affected by whether or not you have cataract surgery.
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