Geographic Atrophy (GA): Anyone else?

Posted by sandwich @sandwich, Dec 10, 2023

I have just been diagnosed with GA, Can anyone share their experiences with this disease?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Eye Conditions Support Group.

I was diagnosed with GA about a year ago. It’s the same eye that has wet macular degeneration and I get anti~VEGF injections every six weeks. There’s a new medication, Syfovre, that can slow the progression of GA, but as I am already getting injections in that eye and the GA appears to be stable (not growing) so far, I am waiting before trying anything new. I take my Areds2 supplements, eat more dark green leafy vegetables and I’m trying to avoid processed meats like bacon. I would have to double my injections to take Syfovre as it can’t be taken at the same time as anti~VEGF. Work is being done to develop a combination shot. So I’m waiting to see what happens with that. Right now my vision in that eye has a twisted area, kind of like water spinning around a drain just to the right of the center. But the amazing thing is that when I look with both my eyes, my brain takes the “better” input from my good eye and I don’t see the defect. How my brain knows which eye is getting the good info I have no idea - but I’m glad it does!

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@cmbg

I was diagnosed with GA about a year ago. It’s the same eye that has wet macular degeneration and I get anti~VEGF injections every six weeks. There’s a new medication, Syfovre, that can slow the progression of GA, but as I am already getting injections in that eye and the GA appears to be stable (not growing) so far, I am waiting before trying anything new. I take my Areds2 supplements, eat more dark green leafy vegetables and I’m trying to avoid processed meats like bacon. I would have to double my injections to take Syfovre as it can’t be taken at the same time as anti~VEGF. Work is being done to develop a combination shot. So I’m waiting to see what happens with that. Right now my vision in that eye has a twisted area, kind of like water spinning around a drain just to the right of the center. But the amazing thing is that when I look with both my eyes, my brain takes the “better” input from my good eye and I don’t see the defect. How my brain knows which eye is getting the good info I have no idea - but I’m glad it does!

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Thank you cmbg so very much. I found your writing very comforting. ejs

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Has anyone been treated for this condition? I understand that a new injectable medication has been recently been approved which forestalls the worsening of this condition, not curing it however.
An injection every two months would be the course of treatment.

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@decabea

Has anyone been treated for this condition? I understand that a new injectable medication has been recently been approved which forestalls the worsening of this condition, not curing it however.
An injection every two months would be the course of treatment.

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Hi @decabea, I moved your questions about geographic atrophy to this existing discussion:
- Geographic Atrophy (GA): Anyone else? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/geographic-atrophy-ga/

I did this so you can easily connect with fellow members @sandwich and @cmbg, who can share their experiences with GA.

Decabea, have you started treatment?

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@colleenyoung

Hi @decabea, I moved your questions about geographic atrophy to this existing discussion:
- Geographic Atrophy (GA): Anyone else? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/geographic-atrophy-ga/

I did this so you can easily connect with fellow members @sandwich and @cmbg, who can share their experiences with GA.

Decabea, have you started treatment?

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I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has tried the treatment. I think it’s a good sign that they are trying to address the immune side of AMD. I understand that several companies are working on this. It will be interesting to see what comes of it.

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Thankful for this forum. I have AMD and take Areds 2xs a day and 4 mg of Astaxanthin daily.
I’ve not heard this and not sure it’s applicable to my AMD.
Haven’t heard of Geographic atrophy before today. So thank you.

I am going to bring this up to my amazing retina doctor in April when I see him.

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To KTF, While I have had wet md in both eyes ( now both stabile for over a year), it seems only one eye qualifies for this newly approved treatment. Your specialist will advise if this for you.

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