| Age related macular degeneration can damage | | | | professor of Ophthalmology at Bascom Palmer |
| the eyes in an unwanted way. In particular, wet | | | | Eye Institute named Dr. Philip J Rosenfeld has |
| AMD involves abnormal blood vessels growth | | | | conducted a research which showed that Avastin |
| behind the retina. Such kind of vessel formation | | | | can improve eyesight for AMD patients |
| and growth leads to blood and fluid leakage. As a | | | | significantly. According to this research, Avastin |
| result, the macula will be damaged and vision loss | | | | could show vision improvement within one week, |
| occurs. Wet form of AMD progresses more | | | | which was quite exiting compared to other |
| rapidly than dry AMD. Currently, there are some | | | | treatments for wet AMD. |
| clinical trials of drugs that are potentially used to | | | | In detail, a compounding pharmacy specializing in |
| fight against age related macular degeneration. | | | | sterile compounding will help transfer the Avastin |
| One of them is called anti-VEGF clinical trial which | | | | from the manufacturer's vial into prefilled syringes. |
| is aimed to reduce the abnormal growth of blood | | | | The reason is that only a very small amount of |
| vessels associated with wet AMD. In the class of | | | | Avastin is enough for retinal specialists to perform |
| drugs called anti-VEGF (Vascular Endothelial | | | | such kind of an injection. This injection can be |
| Growth Factor), Avastin is one that had received | | | | done in an office setting. |
| FDA approval to treat tumors in 2004. Combined | | | | Avastin is also being compared with another |
| with another chemotherapy drug, Avastin is used | | | | treatment for wet macular degeneration called |
| to treat metastatic colorectal cancer in practice. | | | | Lucentis. A clinical trial in this field is currently |
| Now, Avastin is under the clinical trial which seeks | | | | conducted by Emory Eye Center in Atlanta along |
| its effectiveness in treating wet form of age | | | | with 47 other eye institutions. |
| related macular degeneration. An associated | | | | |