New Treatments & Clinical Trials for Wet Age-related Macular Degeneration

Wet age-related macular degeneration occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow under the retina and leak fluid, causing rapid vision loss in the center of the visual field. About 10% of people with AMD have the wet form, which accounts for most severe AMD vision loss. Anti-VEGF injections given every month or two can stop the leaking and often restore some vision.

What's actually going on in research

Trials are testing longer-lasting injections, port delivery systems that eliminate frequent visits, combination approaches that target multiple growth factors, and gene therapies that could produce anti-VEGF protein inside the eye for years. Researchers are also studying complement inhibitors and drugs that might prevent dry AMD from converting to the wet form.

What to know before you search

Eligibility typically depends on how recently wet AMD was diagnosed, current vision level, whether you've had prior anti-VEGF treatment, and the presence of active fluid on imaging.

What types of trials are currently open

• Anti-VEGF trials — Testing new formulations or delivery methods of drugs that block vascular endothelial growth factor, the protein that causes abnormal vessel growth.
• Sustained-release trials — Testing implants, ports, or long-acting injections that could reduce treatment frequency from monthly to every few months or longer.
• Gene therapy trials — Testing one-time injections that deliver genetic material to produce anti-VEGF protein continuously inside the eye.
• Combination trials — Testing drugs that target multiple pathways — VEGF plus other growth factors or inflammation — to see if they work better than anti-VEGF alone.
• Prevention trials — Testing whether treatments can prevent dry AMD from progressing to the wet form in people at high risk.