This article was originally published in a sponsored newsletter.

Imagine being a patient with advanced geographic atrophy (GA). Within a few short years, your vision has deteriorated, leaving you with no central vision in either eye. This loss means you are unable to drive or even use your phone to call for a ride. You rely on family for groceries and medical appointments, and you struggle with preparing meals, reading mail, managing bills, and other daily tasks. This dependency on others can be overwhelming and often leads to feelings of frustration and depression. Sadly, this situation is a reality for many individuals living with advanced GA.

As retina specialists, we sometimes overlook the profound challenges that our GA patients endure, but it is crucial to acknowledge and validate their concerns about their visual impairments. Research shows that patients with GA can progress to central vision loss in as little as 2.5 years¹—a distressingly brief timeframe. Studies also reveal that 25% of patients with advanced GA suffer from depression² and would sacrifice an average of 60% of their remaining life expectancy to regain normal vision.³ Their physicians, however, may underestimate this feeling by up to 97%.³ This disparity highlights how critical it is for us to recognize and empathize with the visual difficulties our patients experience, as well as the emotional toll they take. It is essential to take a moment to check in on how your patients are coping emotionally.

Finally, we must consider the fear and burden associated with treatment. Regular visits for anti-complement injections—whether they are monthly or bi-monthly—can be daunting. Many patients experience significant anxiety about the injections and discomfort afterward, not to mention anxiety caused by the logistical challenges of coordinating transportation, scheduling appointments, managing co-pays, and enduring long office wait times.

It is imperative that retina specialists recognize the immense burden that GA places on our patients and acknowledge and validate their concerns. By doing so, we can offer more compassionate and comprehensive care.

References

1. Lindblad AS, Lloyd PC, Clemons TE, et al. Change in area of geographic atrophy in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study: AREDS report number 26. Arch Ophthalmol. 2009 Sep;127(9):1168-1174. doi:10.1001/archophthalmol.2009.198
2. Casten R, Rovner B. Depression in age-related macular degeneration. J Vis Impair Blind. 2008;102(10):591–599.
3. Brown MM, Brown GC, Sharma S, et al. The burden of age-related macular degeneration: a value-based analysis. Curr Opin Ophthalmol. 2006 Jun;17(3):257–266. doi: 10.1097/01.icu.0000193079.55240.18

Priya Vakharia, MD is a member of Vit Buckle Society, the AAO, and the American Society of Retina Specialists. She practices at Retina Vitreous Associates of Florida in Palm Harbor and St. Petersburg.