Media Release
11 November 2009
1
Revolutionary new treatment ‘could halt’ AMD progression
In a world first, researchers at the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA) will trial a novel laser
therapy aimed at stopping the progression of the sight threatening disease, age-related macular
degeneration (AMD).
Head of Macular Research at CERA, Professor Robyn Guymer said the trial is particularly exciting because
unlike existing AMD treatments, the laser therapy targets the disease in its early stages, before sight is
lost.
“Currently, when a patient is diagnosed with early AMD, they’re told that nothing can be done until the
disease reaches its late stages, by which time some patients have suffered irreversible vision loss,”
Professor Guymer said.
“In applying the laser therapy we hope to halt, or partially reverse, the progression of AMD before it
threatens a patient’s sight”.
Professor Guymer said the treatment involves a specially designed novel laser device that delivers a
controlled nanosecond dose of laser energy into the eye.
“Preliminary research suggests that the application of retinal regeneration laser therapy to the affected
eye can eliminate the yellow deposits, known as ‘drusen,’ which are present in the retinal tissue of people
with AMD,” she said.
“In eliminating the drusen from a patient’s retina, we hope to reverse the degenerative processes caused
by the disease”.
“If successful, the laser therapy will be a major breakthrough in AMD treatment and will potentially
benefit millions of people world-wide”.
AMD is a progressive disease affecting the central area of the retina called the macula. Fifteen per cent of
people over 50, or half a million Australians, live with the early stages of the disease. It is the leading
cause of vision loss in Australia and is estimated to cost the community more than 2.6 billion dollars
annually.
The study, to be conducted at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, will involve 50 patients with early
AMD. The trial is being conducted by CERA in partnership with Ellex Research & Development Pty Ltd.
CERA incorporates the University of Melbourne’s Department of Ophthalmology.
The Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development (DIIRD) recently awarded CERA just
over half a million dollars under Victoria’s Science Agenda Investment Fund to conduct the clinical trial.
For media enquires or to arrange an interview with Professor Guymer contact:
Lauren Metcalfe
(BH) 03 9929 8424
(MOB) 0409 255 980
laurenem@unimelb.edu.au
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