| New methods of treatment are emerging to fight | | | | Another promising drug is Lucentis (Ranibizumab). |
| macular degeneration which is one of the leading | | | | Lucentis also works by impeding growth of |
| causes of severe vision loss in adults in the US | | | | abnormal blood vessels in the eye. This drug |
| and the developed world. | | | | shows promise in not only preventing further |
| The new drugs include Macugen from Pfizer | | | | vision loss but also in reversing the effects of |
| Eyetech, Retaane from Alcon, Kenalog and | | | | macular degeneration. This drug is presently in |
| Lucentis. Macugen (Pegaptanib Sodium) is a new | | | | clinical trials and is expected to be available for |
| novel drug that targets the body?s destructive | | | | prescription only by the first quarter of 2007. |
| signals that cause abnormal blood vessels to grow. | | | | According to Age-Related Eye Disease Study |
| This drug works by targeting the protein involved | | | | (AREDS), a daily supplement of 500 milligrams |
| in the growth of abnormal blood vessels. A doctor | | | | (mg) of vitamin C, 400 international units (IU) of |
| injects this drug into the vitreous fluid in the eye | | | | vitamin E, 15 mg of beta carotene (often as |
| after numbing it. Macugen stops the formation of | | | | vitamin A ? up to 25,000 IU), 80 mg of zinc (as |
| new blood vessels and decreases leakage from | | | | zinc oxide), and 2 mg of copper (as cupric oxide) |
| existing blood vessels. This treatment is repeated | | | | can reduce the risk of advancing to moderate to |
| every six weeks helps to prevent further loss of | | | | severe vision loss by up to 25 percent. For people |
| vision. | | | | with moderate to advanced macular degeneration, |
| Retaane (Anecortave Acetate) is a synthetic | | | | this study indicates that intake of high doses of |
| steroid that targets destructive processes that | | | | zinc, beta carotene, and vitamins C and E is |
| cause abnormal blood vessels to grow in the eye | | | | effective in reducing the risk of further vision loss. |
| and also blocks multiple destructive signals. | | | | Research into new ways of treating macular |
| Kenalog (Triamcinolone) is a steroid used to treat | | | | degeneration is an ongoing process and new |
| eye inflammation and swelling. Research is going | | | | advances keep getting reported. It is advisable to |
| on to determine whether injections of this drug | | | | consult a doctor periodically to know whether |
| might also improve vision for people affected by | | | | new treatments have been introduced. |
| macular degeneration. | | | | |