Clearing up a misunderstanding Anti-VEGF drugs for treating wet age-related macular degeneration are highly successful at inhibiting neovascularization, but they are limited to that alone. Clinical trials for Lucentis (ranibizumab) and Eylea (aflibercept) are showing better than 90% success at blocking the growth factors responsible for uncontrolled blood vessel growth into the retina, and off-label [Read More]
Category: Therapies, Treatments, and Procedures
Bright Flash Retinal Photography–a Thing of the Past
by Dan Roberts (Macular Degeneration Support) and Liz Trauernicht (Macular Degeneration Foundation) OCT and nonmydriatic technologies are lessening discomfort and risk of eye exams. MD Support and MD Foundation communicate with thousands of patients who undergo periodic eye exams for diagnosis and treatment of macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and other chronic diseases. Many have [Read More]
Lucentis® Approved for Myopic Macular Degeneration
Genentech has announced FDA approval for Lucentis® as a treatment for patients with choroidal neovascularization (CNV) resulting from myopic macular degeneration (MMD), also known as myopic degeneration. Severe myopia (near-sightedness) can cause uncorrectable central vision impairment, and it may advance to total central vision loss from CNV, which is growth and leakage of blood vessels [Read More]
For Some, Switching ANTI-VEGF Treatments Midstream Could Be Harmful
Switching from Lucentis to Eylea could result in worsening of the retinal condition of some people with wet (exudative) AMD. Since the advent of anti-VEGF drug treatments for wet AMD, research has verified that blood vessel growth and leakage (neovascularization) usually diminishes in patients who are switched from either Lucentis or Avastin to Eylea. A small [Read More]
AMD Since Anti-VEGF
A National Eye Institute (NEI) study* confirms that anti-VEGF treatments have greatly improved the prognosis for patients with the wet form of age-related macular degeneration (wAMD) during the past decade. In the study of nearly 650 people, half still had vision 20/40 or better, typically good enough to drive or to read standard print, after five years of treatment with [Read More]