Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTreatmentAdaptationsSupportMental HealthClinical Trial Enrollment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Treatment
Adaptations
Support
Mental Health
Clinical Trial Enrollment
Macular telangiectasiatype 2 (MacTel2)causes gradual vision loss in both eyes. This condition is not curable, but treatments may help slow disease progression.While MacTel2 typically doesn’t cause complete blindness, living with vision loss poses practical challenges, and it can be emotionally difficult to cope.
This article describes the treatments for MacTel2 and lifestyle recommendations for living with this type of vision loss.
Hiraman / Getty Images
MacTel2 is a rare eye disease, with a prevalence of approximately 1 out of every 5,000 to 10,000 people. This condition affects people over age 40.
MacTel2 Treatment for Vision Changes
Treatments for MacTel2 include medication, surgery, supplements, and emerging experimental therapies. It’s important to know that sometimes this condition does not require medical intervention because the vision loss often worsens very slowly.However, you and your eye doctor will need to watch closely to decide if you need to start treatment.
Treatments for MacTel2 include:
These treatments may have limited benefits or could potentially have side effects.
Types of Macular Telangiactasia
Experimental Therapies
Research examining the potential benefits of other MacTel2 treatments is underway.
Some potential treatments that are being examined in research studies:
Proliferative vs. Non-Proliferative MacTel2There are five defined stages of MacTel2. Stages 1 through 4 involve vision loss due to changes in the blood vessels around the macula and thickening of the macula. Stage 5, which is an advanced stage, is described as proliferative MacTel2 because the blood vessels leak, causing significant eye damage.
Proliferative vs. Non-Proliferative MacTel2
There are five defined stages of MacTel2. Stages 1 through 4 involve vision loss due to changes in the blood vessels around the macula and thickening of the macula. Stage 5, which is an advanced stage, is described as proliferative MacTel2 because the blood vessels leak, causing significant eye damage.
MacTel2 Adaptations and Adjustments
After diagnosis of MacTel2 or if you have vision loss for any reason, it’s crucial that you discuss your prognosis with youreye doctor. You need to know how often to scheduleroutine eye examinationsand follow-up visits.
You also should learn which symptoms are concerning, and when you should call for an additional appointment beyond your scheduled follow-ups.
The friends and family members who spend a lot of time with you should be aware of your limitations. It would be beneficial for you to discuss what type of assistance they could offer you when you are together. For example, you may ask them to read the menu if you are out at a restaurant together.
You mayneed to make adjustmentsto your day-to-day life—especially when it becomes unsafe for you to continue driving.
Some adaptations you might consider are:
A Caregiver’s Guide to Coping With Vision Loss
MacTel Community and Specialist Support
If you’ve been diagnosed with MacTel2 and are coping with vision loss due to the condition, it’s crucial that you seek practical support and guidance from your eye doctor and from other groups that may have updated information about this condition.
Ask your eye doctor if they recommend that you see a specialist in MacTel2 and similar conditions, or if there are clinical trials that you may qualify for.
You may also wish to contact or join organizations that can provide you with the latest updates, treatments, and guidance on the condition, including information on potential research trials.
Some organizations that may consider joining include:
Taking Care of Your Mental Health With MacTel2
Living with vision loss can lead to depression, anxiety, anger, isolation, or a combination of these conditions. It’s important for you to know that you are not alone and that many people who experience vision loss feel similar emotions.
It may be benefit you to seek help from others. For a professional perspective, talk with a therapist who will listen to your concerns, acknowledge what you are experiencing, and provide advice and guidance.
Also consider joining a support group for people living with vision loss. In this type of community, you can learn from others' experiences as well as share your own feelings and concerns with people who understand what you are going through. You may also find it beneficial to give support and advice to others as you become an active part of the support community.
6 Ways to Manage Stress With Vision Loss
MacTel2 Clinical Trial Enrollment
Research studies aim to determine the causes of MacTel2 and to evaluate potential treatments. The best way to consider these options is to ask your eye doctor to point you to resources they trust.
You might qualify for research studies that look for causes and risk factors. Such trials often involve undergoing diagnostic tests, such asgenetic blood tests, that researchers can use to identify inheritance patterns or genes that could predispose you to MacTel2.
You, your eye doctor, and your family can decide together whether certain studies would be a good fit for you.
If you want to pursue enrolling in a research study, your eye doctor‘s office can put you in touch with the research center. You will be assessed to see if you qualify based on your symptoms, previous treatments, and the stage of your condition.
If you qualify, you will be provided with information about the study so that you can decide whether you want to proceed.
Summary
Living with vision loss leads to practical challenges, and it is emotionally difficult. It’s important that you get the right diagnosis and treatment for your condition, follow recommendations for managing day-to-day limitations, and reach out for support to help you cope with the psychological consequences of vision loss.
Several treatments are available for MacTel2, and they can help prevent or slow vision loss. The most common therapies are injections to reduce swelling around the macula and eye surgery to repair damage. Another way to get treatment is to apply for and be accepted into clinical studies.
Disability Accomodations for Vision Loss
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is macular telangiactasia?Kedarisetti KC, Narayanan R, Stewart MW, Reddy Gurram N, Khanani AM.Macular telangiectasia type 2: a comprehensive review.Clin Ophthalmol.2022;16:3297-3309. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S373538Jayasri P, Stephen AM.A complete clinical review of idiopathic macular telangiectasia.Oman J Ophthalmol.2023;16(3):421-426. doi:10.4103/ojo.ojo_170_22Wu L.Unraveling the mysteries of macular telangiectasia 2: the intersection of philanthropy, multimodal imaging and molecular genetics. The 2022 founders lecture of the pan American vitreoretinal society.Int J Retina Vitreous. 2023 Nov 15;9(1):69. doi:10.1186/s40942-023-00505-5American Academy of Ophthalmology.Low vision rehabilitation teams and services.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is macular telangiactasia?Kedarisetti KC, Narayanan R, Stewart MW, Reddy Gurram N, Khanani AM.Macular telangiectasia type 2: a comprehensive review.Clin Ophthalmol.2022;16:3297-3309. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S373538Jayasri P, Stephen AM.A complete clinical review of idiopathic macular telangiectasia.Oman J Ophthalmol.2023;16(3):421-426. doi:10.4103/ojo.ojo_170_22Wu L.Unraveling the mysteries of macular telangiectasia 2: the intersection of philanthropy, multimodal imaging and molecular genetics. The 2022 founders lecture of the pan American vitreoretinal society.Int J Retina Vitreous. 2023 Nov 15;9(1):69. doi:10.1186/s40942-023-00505-5American Academy of Ophthalmology.Low vision rehabilitation teams and services.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is macular telangiactasia?Kedarisetti KC, Narayanan R, Stewart MW, Reddy Gurram N, Khanani AM.Macular telangiectasia type 2: a comprehensive review.Clin Ophthalmol.2022;16:3297-3309. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S373538Jayasri P, Stephen AM.A complete clinical review of idiopathic macular telangiectasia.Oman J Ophthalmol.2023;16(3):421-426. doi:10.4103/ojo.ojo_170_22Wu L.Unraveling the mysteries of macular telangiectasia 2: the intersection of philanthropy, multimodal imaging and molecular genetics. The 2022 founders lecture of the pan American vitreoretinal society.Int J Retina Vitreous. 2023 Nov 15;9(1):69. doi:10.1186/s40942-023-00505-5American Academy of Ophthalmology.Low vision rehabilitation teams and services.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.What is macular telangiactasia?
Kedarisetti KC, Narayanan R, Stewart MW, Reddy Gurram N, Khanani AM.Macular telangiectasia type 2: a comprehensive review.Clin Ophthalmol.2022;16:3297-3309. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S373538
Jayasri P, Stephen AM.A complete clinical review of idiopathic macular telangiectasia.Oman J Ophthalmol.2023;16(3):421-426. doi:10.4103/ojo.ojo_170_22
Wu L.Unraveling the mysteries of macular telangiectasia 2: the intersection of philanthropy, multimodal imaging and molecular genetics. The 2022 founders lecture of the pan American vitreoretinal society.Int J Retina Vitreous. 2023 Nov 15;9(1):69. doi:10.1186/s40942-023-00505-5
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Low vision rehabilitation teams and services.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
