| There are two forms of macular degeneration; | | | | for the treatment of wet macular degeneration in |
| wet and dry. The wet form is defined by the | | | | 2006. It, too, prevents the VEGF molecules from |
| presence of abnormal blood vessels developing | | | | binding to or "plugging in" to its receptors. It is |
| within the layers of the retina. These vessels, | | | | directed against several forms of VEGF. |
| called choroidal neovascularization, leak, bleed and | | | | Avastin® (bevacizumab) is a chemotherapy |
| cause damage to the retina. While there is no | | | | drug used for certain types of kidney, lung, brain, |
| treatment for the dry form, the accepted | | | | breast and colon cancers. It is also an anti-VEGF |
| treatment for wet macular degeneration is | | | | agent and is very similar to Lucentis. It is, too, is |
| intraocular injections of anti-VEGF medications. | | | | made by Genentech/Roche. |
| What is VEGF? Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor | | | | Avastin, in some areas of the United States, has |
| (VEGF) is a protein that is liberated by cells in the | | | | become the standard of care for the treatment |
| retina. The growth factor induces new blood | | | | of wet macular degeneration. While not FDA |
| vessels to form and also keeps them "alive." | | | | approved for the eye, most retina specialists |
| Without the growth factor, no new vessels can | | | | choose to use this as an acceptable form of care. |
| grow and existing clusters of abnormal vessels | | | | The results are comparable to those of Lucentis. |
| shrink up and disappear.anti-VEGF medications are | | | | Avastin, in quantities used for the eye, is much |
| antibodies, or antibody-like molecules, designed to | | | | cheaper than Lucentis. |
| bind to VEGF molecules and prevent VEGF from | | | | All of the injections are still given as a series. The |
| doing its job. In the case of ARMD, the VEGF is | | | | most significant risks of the injections are |
| taken out of circulation and none is available to | | | | blindness from infection (also called |
| promote growth of the neovascular blood vessels. | | | | endophthalmitis) and retinal detachment. The |
| Macugen® (pegaptanib) was the first | | | | chance of developing endophthalmitis is about the |
| anti-VEGF medication be used for intraocular | | | | same as undergoing cataract surgery. |
| injections. It was FDA approved for ophthalmic | | | | Anti-VEGF medications have become very useful |
| use in 2004. It was the first treatment where | | | | as the visual results are usually quite gratifying. If |
| patients actually regained vision! The injections are | | | | caught in time, many patients have noted an |
| given as a series; back then, it was suggested as | | | | improvement in their vision. This is a novel |
| often as every month for at least one year. | | | | concept for an otherwise "blinding" disease. |
| Lucentis® (ranibizumab) was FDA approved | | | | |