Macugen. Lucentis. Avastin. Eylea. Beovu. All of those are anti-VEGF drugs prescribed for treatment of wet AMD and other conditions involving growth and leakage of new blood vessels in the retina. Those brand names appear in articles and ads, but rarely in eye specialists’ notes and prescription orders. Such names are designed mainly for public […]
A National Eye Institute (NEI) study will test the safety of a stem cell treatment for the dry (atrophic) form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The researchers will take a patient’s own blood cells, and in a lab, convert them into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) capable of becoming any type of cell in the […]
Investigators have found significant associations between lessened brain functions and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). 5604 people age 40+ who participated in the 2005-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey have been found to experience increased memory problems and confusion, seemingly as a result of their AMD. The report was published in the December 2019 issue […]
As reported here in 2017, a drug called RGX-314 is being tested as a one-time sub-retinal injection for wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD). A preliminary study showed that patients with wAMD had long-term vision stabilization and anatomic improvement following a single treatment with the investigational gene therapy. Now, in a subgroup of patients with the […]
Genentech has reported end-of-trial results examining the use of their unique alternative to intravitreal injections, the Port Delivery System (PDS). As reported previously here, the PDS is a tiny refillable implant that provides patients affected by wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with continuous delivery of Lucentis (ranibizumab) as necessary. Presented by Carl Regillo, MD, at […]
A Phase 2 study has found that a new drug could be a safe and effective treatment for improving vision in patients with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). On October 13, 2019, David Boyer, MD (Retina-Vitreous Associates Medical Group), presented results from a study of risuteganib intravitreal injection to members of the American Academy of […]
(Updated 10/12/19) Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc. has announced progress with yet another therapy designed to extend the time between anti-VEGF injections for treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD). The company’s Investigational New Drug (IND) application has been approved for a multi-center study of ADVM-022, a novel gene therapy candidate for the treatment of wAMD. “We […]
Speech for PBA Awards BanquetNovember 2, 2012 Dan RobertsFounding DirectorMacular Degeneration Support Thank you for the privilege of speaking to you this evening, and the opportunity to get to know more of the great people of Prevent Blindness America. I’ve long admired the work of this organization and have referred many of our low vision […]
by Dan Roberts What’s so funny about low vision? Nothing really, but some humor can come from living with it. You know, those gaffes and missteps which may not be funny to anyone who hasn’t lived with visual impairment, but which can make us grin when we realize we’re not the only ones who commit […]
(Featuring “Sarah’s Day”) by Dan Roberts As an unabashed gadget geek, I have followed the development of low vision technology since my diagnosis in 1994. The first fifteen of those years offered a number of optical and non-optical devices to help our low vision community get by, and we have hungrily consumed each and every […]
Eyes are thought to have first developed in animals, in a very basic form, around 550 million years ago. Since then, they have become the second most complex organ after the brain. We hear all the time about the wonderful ways our brains work for us, but our peepers sometimes don’t get the respect they […]
by Dan Roberts The field of available equipment and technology for individuals affected by low vision is vast and ever-increasing. The number of products has grown exponentially over the past decade, making it difficult to keep up on new developments. This brief article is for those who would like to know what the market offers […]
The first rule of nutrition for maintaining good retina health is, for some people, the most difficult to swallow. Consuming a diet rich in leafy green vegetables for their high antioxidant values is highly recommended by professional nutritionists and eye care specialists, and no one argues about its preventative value. So why is this rule […]
In January 2017, Ophthotech Corporation (now known as Iveric), announced that the first patient had been dosed in a Phase 2/3 clinical study of Zimura® (avacincaptad pegol sodium) for treatment of advanced dry macular degeneration (aka geographic atrophy). Zimura® inhibits complement factor C5, which is believed to be involved in the development of AMD. On Oct. 28, […]