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Summary
Dry AMD cannot be cured, but it can be managed, and in eligible patients, visual function can be improved. Where once monitoring and nutritional supplementation were the standard method of management, MacuMira is an authorized device-based therapy available in Canada to help improve visual acuity and contrast sensitivity in appropriate patients.1
A conversation with an eye care provider familiar with the current management landscape is a good starting point for anyone who is looking for treatment for dry AMD.2
An Overview of Dry AMD and Treatment
Dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive condition in which the cells of the macula, the central part of the retina responsible for sharp, detailed vision, deteriorate over time. Dry AMD is the most common form of the disease and often develops gradually, though every patient is different. In early stages, many patients notice little impact on daily life. As the condition advances, central vision becomes increasingly affected, making tasks like reading, recognizing faces and driving more difficult.1
Historically, the therapeutic options for dry AMD were limited. First, the underlying biology of dry AMD is complex, multifactorial, and not yet fully understood, making it difficult to identify a single point of intervention. Second, dry AMD progresses slowly enough that demonstrating measurable benefit from a treatment in a clinical trial requires either very long follow-up periods or outcome measures sensitive enough to capture meaningful change over shorter timeframes.3
For many years, treatment focused primarily on monitoring, lifestyle measures, and nutritional supplementation to reduce the risk of progression, while low-vision rehabilitation could help people adapt to existing vision loss.
Current Treatment and Management Options
Monitoring
Regular monitoring with retinal imaging is a core component of dry AMD care at every stage. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) helps an eye care provider track changes in the macula over time, identify drusen accumulation, detect the onset of geographic atrophy, and detect early signs of conversion to wet AMD, which requires different and more urgent treatment.1
Monitoring does not treat dry AMD, but it is what makes everything else possible. Without current, accurate knowledge of a patient’s disease status, it is harder to make decisions about other aspects of management. Patients who delay monitoring appointments may miss changes in their condition, which could potentially impact their treatment.
Lifestyle Modification
Several lifestyle factors are associated with AMD risk and rate of change. Because of that, modifying them has been shown to help reduce risk. For example, stopping smoking has a strong impact, as smokers face substantially elevated rates of AMD progression compared with non-smokers. A diet rich in leafy green vegetables, colourful fruit, and oily fish is generally recommended for overall health. Protecting eyes from UV exposure with appropriate eyewear is also recommended, though it is not a replacement for proper AMD care.
These changes require no prescription and carry minimal risk. They apply at every stage of dry AMD and should be discussed proactively with every patient, not only as a last resort or when other options are unavailable.
AREDS2 Supplementation
The AREDS2 formula, containing lutein, zeaxanthin, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, and copper, was studied in a large randomized trial funded by the US National Eye Institute and found to reduce the risk of progression to advanced AMD by approximately 25% in patients with intermediate dry AMD or advanced disease in one eye. This is a meaningful reduction in structural risk and one of the most supported interventions in AMD management.4
AREDS2 supplementation addresses progression risk, not visual function. It does not improve visual acuity or contrast sensitivity, and it is not recommended for patients at early stages of dry AMD, where the evidence for benefit is weaker. A clinician should confirm AMD stage before recommending AREDS2, and the formulation should be selected carefully. This is because versions containing beta-carotene are contraindicated in current or former smokers due to elevated lung cancer risk.4
MacuMira: Device-Based Therapy
MacuMira is an authorized device indicated in Canada to improve visual function in patients with dry AMD. It delivers low-level electrical stimulation noninvasively to tissues near the eye, in a clinical setting, under the supervision of a licensed eye care professional. In its published randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial, the treatment group showed statistically significant improvement in both visual acuity and contrast sensitivity. The average gain was 8.2 letters on the ETDRS scale, with 48% of patients gaining 10 or more letters. Contrast sensitivity improved by an average of 0.24 log units. No device-related serious adverse events were recorded in the trial or in subsequent use across more than 21,000 treatments in 3 countries.2
MacuMira is not indicated for wet AMD and is most applicable to patients whose baseline visual acuity falls in the range studied in the clinical trial (20/50 to 20/200). Patients with better baseline acuity may experience a ceiling effect, limiting the measurable scope for improvement. Individual results vary, and clinicians must assess eligibility before treatment.2
Device-based therapy fits alongside, not instead of, monitoring and supplementation. Patients who begin a course of therapy should continue their regular eye examinations and any other elements of their management plan.
Low Vision Rehabilitation
For patients with significant central vision loss that has already occurred, low vision rehabilitation provides tools and strategies for maintaining daily independence. Low vision specialists and occupational therapists work with patients to maximize the use of remaining vision through magnification, adaptive lighting, contrast enhancement and practical training for everyday tasks.1
Low vision rehabilitation does not address the disease itself but addresses its functional consequences. Patients who feel their vision loss limits what they can do can ask for a referral to a low vision specialist.
Device-Based Therapy Results
For patients who respond to authorized microcurrent therapy, improvement in visual function varies between individuals. That said, improvement typically becomes apparent within the first 4 to 10 days of treatment, often within the first 4 sessions. This does not mean all patients respond, and the degree of improvement varies by disease stage, baseline acuity, and other factors.2
Follow-up treatments are typically recommended to help maintain the improvement achieved during the initial treatment period. This maintenance schedule is built into the treatment protocol and should be understood before treatment begins.
Questions to Ask Your Eye Care Provider
- What stage of dry AMD do I have and what does that mean for my management options?
- Am I eligible for AREDS2 supplementation based on my disease stage and health history?4
- Is device-based therapy something I should explore, and does my current visual acuity put me in the range likely to benefit?2
- Have there been any changes to dry AMD management options since my last assessment?
- What lifestyle changes could have the most meaningful impact for me specifically?
- If my visual function has already been affected, should I be referred to a low vision specialist?
- How will we monitor whether my management plan is achieving what we hope?
Conclusion
Dry AMD cannot currently be cured, but it can be managed. For eligible patients, certain treatments may also improve visual function. Monitoring, lifestyle modification and AREDS2 supplementation remain important pillars of care. MacuMira is now available in Canada as an authorized device indicated to improve visual function in dry AMD patients, supported by a published randomized, sham-controlled trial. Patients who were previously told lifestyle management was all that could be done should consider having a fresh conversation with an eye care provider about what is available today.
Disclaimer
This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Patients should speak with a qualified eye care professional to understand which management options are appropriate for their specific condition and stage of disease.
Glossary
Dry AMD (dry age-related macular degeneration): A progressive retinal condition in which the macula deteriorates over time, affecting central vision. The most common form of AMD. Distinct from wet AMD.
Wet AMD: A form of AMD involving abnormal blood vessel growth beneath the retina. Causes more rapid vision loss than dry AMD and requires different treatment. Approved microcurrent devices are not indicated for wet AMD.
MacuMira: An approved medical device indicated to improve visual function in patients with dry AMD, delivered via low-level electrical stimulation in a clinical setting. For use under the supervision of an eye care professional. Not indicated for wet AMD.
AREDS2 formula: A nutritional supplement combination including lutein, zeaxanthin, vitamin C, vitamin E and zinc. Reduces progression risk to advanced AMD by approximately 25% in eligible patients. Does not improve visual acuity or contrast sensitivity.
ETDRS scale: The Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study visual acuity scale, scored letter by letter. The standard outcome measure in AMD clinical trials.
Contrast sensitivity: The ability to distinguish objects from their background at varying contrast levels. Frequently reduced in dry AMD independently of high-contrast visual acuity.
Geographic atrophy: An advanced stage of dry AMD in which retinal pigment epithelium cells break down, causing irreversible central vision loss. Often the end stage of progressive dry AMD.
Optical coherence tomography (OCT): A non-invasive retinal imaging technology producing detailed cross-sectional images of the macula. The standard tool for monitoring dry AMD progression.
Ceiling effect: In clinical trials, the phenomenon where patients near the upper limit of the measurement scale show smaller absolute improvements, reducing the observed effect size even when the treatment is acting as intended.
Low vision rehabilitation: Specialist services helping patients with significant vision loss maximize daily functioning through magnification devices, adaptive strategies and training.
References
1. Age-Related Macular Degeneration. National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health. Last reviewed November 2023. Accessed June 2026. https://www.nei.nih.gov/eye-health-information/eye-conditions-and-diseases/age-related-macular-degeneration.
2. Evaluation of visual acuity in dry AMD patients after microcurrent electrical stimulation. Parkinson KM, Sayre EC, Tobe SW. International Journal of Retina and Vitreous. Published May 2023. Accessed June 2026. https://macumira.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/MacuMira-Clinical-Trial.pdf.
3. Understanding Macular Degeneration. American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published November 2025. Accessed June 2026. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/amd-macular-degeneration.
4. Lutein + Zeaxanthin and Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Age-Related Macular Degeneration: The Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) Randomized Clinical Trial. AREDS2 Research Group. JAMA. Published May 15, 2013. Accessed June 2026. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/1684847.
5. Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Canadian Ophthalmological Society. Date not listed. Accessed June 2026. https://www.seethepossibilities.ca/eye-health/age-related-macular-degeneration/.
