What Is wAMD?

Click on the links below to learn more about wet AMD.



What is wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD)?

Wet AMD can cause blurred vision or blind spots in the center of your vision.

  • Wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow under the macula (MAK-yu-luh) and retina (reh-TIN-uh)
  • Abnormal vessels leak blood and fluid, causing problems with vision when looking straight ahead
  • Wet AMD is a leading cause of blindness in Americans older than 60 years
  • Side or peripheral vision is rarely affected by wet AMD

Healthy Eye

Healthy Eye

Eye With Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration (wAMD)

Eye With Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration (wAMD)

What are the symptoms of wAMD?

Wet AMD symptoms can come on and worsen quickly.

You may notice the following symptoms:

  • Blurry or distorted vision
  • Straight lines appearing wavy
  • Objects appearing as the wrong shape or size
  • Inability to see clear, correct colors
  • A dark, empty area in the center of vision
  • Difficulty reading, driving, watching TV, or doing other daily tasks


What are risk factors for wAMD?

Lifestyle choices like lack of exercise or unhealthy diets, or other factors like uncontrolled blood pressure or cholesterol may also increase the risk of wet AMD. Wet AMD is also more common in Caucasian people.

The exact cause of wet AMD is unknown.

Risk factors include:

Smoking
Smoking
Obesity
Obesity
Cardio
Cardiovascular Disease
Family History
Family History
Appointment Calendar
Make a Retina Specialist Appointment

If you think you are experiencing problems with vision from wet AMD, make an appointment with a Retina Specialist right away.

Find a Retina Specialist

Financial Assistance Options

Financial Assistance Options

There may be options to help you afford LUCENTIS, no matter what type of health insurance you have. Learn about Genentech Ophthalmology Access Solutions.

Important Safety Information & Indication

Who is LUCENTIS for? LUCENTIS® (ranibizumab injection) is a prescription medicine for the treatment of patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD).

What important safety information should I know about LUCENTIS? You should not use LUCENTIS if you have an infection in or around the eye or are allergic to LUCENTIS or any of its ingredients. LUCENTIS is a prescription medication given by injection into the eye, and it has side effects. Some LUCENTIS patients have had detached retinas and serious eye infections. If your eye becomes red, sensitive to light, or painful, or if you have a change in vision, call or visit your eye doctor right away.

Some LUCENTIS patients have had increases in eye pressure before and within 1 hour of an injection.

Uncommonly, LUCENTIS patients have had serious, sometimes fatal, problems related to blood clots, such as heart attacks or strokes.

Severe inflammation of vessels in the retina has happened for patients treated with LUCENTIS. Call your healthcare provider immediately if you experience a change in vision.

Some LUCENTIS patients have serious side effects related to the injection. These include serious infections inside the eye, detached retinas, and cataracts. The most common eye-related side effects are increased redness in the white of the eye, eye pain, small specks in vision, and increased eye pressure. The most common non–eye-related side effects are nose and throat infections, anemia, nausea and cough. Ask your doctor if you have questions or want more information.

You may report side effects to the FDA at (800) FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. You may also report side effects to Genentech at (888) 835-2555.

For additional Safety Information, please talk to your doctor and see the LUCENTIS full Prescribing Information.