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New treatments for macular degeneration




 

The newest treatment being used for macular degeneration involves use of drugs called anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) medications. These drugs help stop new CNV from growing by blocking the effects of a growth factor these blood vessels need to thrive. Anti-VEGF medications are injected directly into your eye. Some anti-VEGF agents that have been approved for use or are currently being investigated for treating macular degeneration include:
 

  • Macugen. Pegaptanib (Macugen) is approved for the treatment of wet macular degeneration. This drug is given as a series of injections into the vitreous fluid in the eye. It helps to prevent further vision loss by stopping the formation of new blood vessels and decreasing leakage from existing blood vessels.
     
  • Lucentis. Like Macugen, ranibizumab (Lucentis) is an anti-VEGF drug used to treat wet macular degeneration. It also impedes new growth of abnormal blood vessels and helps dry up leaking vessels. However, ranibizumab may be able to reverse some of the effects of macular degeneration, not just prevent further vision loss.
     

LUCENTIS® (ranibizumab injection) is a prescription medicine for the treatment of patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
LUCENTIS is a breakthrough treatment for wet AMD that can do more than just help you maintain your vision. With LUCENTIS, people with wet AMD may see their vision improve or keep the vision they have.
LUCENTIS is an FDA-approved treatment specifically developed for the treatment of wet AMD.
Of patients in key clinical studies taking LUCENTIS monthly...

  • Up to 40% of patients had a significant improvement of at least 3 more lines (15 letters) on the eye chart
  • 70% of patients could see at least 1 more letter on the eye chart
  • 95% of patients had their eyesight stay the same (lost fewer than 15 letters or 3 lines)
  • Up to 40% of patients achieved vision of 20/40 or better

And did you know that LUCENTIS...
Was specifically developed for use in the eye, and is FDA approved for the treatment of wet AMD?
 

  • Bevacizumab (Avastin). Some doctors are prescribing this drug, which is closely related to ranibizumab, hoping that it will have effects. Bevacizumab hasn't been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a treatment for macular degeneration, but it has been approved as a treatment for colon and rectal cancer. That means that the use of this medication to treat macular degeneration is currently considered an off-label use of the drug. Still, some physicians are using bevacizumab injections to treat wet macular degeneration
     
  • Macular translocation surgery. Macular translocation surgery is a treatment that can be used if the abnormal blood vessels are located directly under the fovea. To start the procedure, your surgeon detaches the retina, shifts the fovea away from the CNV and relocates it over healthy tissue. When the CNV is exposed, the surgeon can remove the CNV with tiny forceps or use a hot laser to destroy blood vessels without damaging the fovea. This surgery can be successful for preserving vision, and in some instances improving vision, if your vision loss is recent, the extent of CNV is limited and the tissue around the fovea is healthy. This surgery is not widely used.