There is new hope for people who suffer from macular degeneration, which is a disease that destroys central vision.

The treatment is for the wet form of macular degeneration, sometimes called age-related macular degeneration or AMD.

It’s the No. 1 cause of blindness in older Americans. Standard treatment can slow the progression but not cure the disease. In wet AMD, blood vessels become fragile and often leak blood. Damage to the eye can happen quickly. Blind spots occur in the central vision, leaving sight only to the side.

Surgeons in London, England, are trying a new procedure. Doctors remove the gel from the inside of the eye to reach the macular at the back. The eye is then treated with radiation.

“The radiation makes the small blood vessels that cause all the problems shrink away. And that really is the advantage of this procedure,” ophthalmic surgeon Dr. Tim Jackson said.

Doctors said there is no guarantee but expect people to see improvement in about three weeks.

Doctors in Philadelphia are also part of the trial. Wills Eye Institute is recruiting people with the disease to take part in the study.

A symptom of wet macular degeneration is distortions in vision. For example, straight lines will appear wavy or crooked, and objects appear smaller than they should.

Sufferers will also begin having problems seeing straight ahead. What’s directly in front of them may appear blurry or less clear.

Source: NBC10