|
Anti-VEGF Therapy |
|
Abnormal blood vessels, bleeding, or leakage from blood vessels can be treated with medications that are injected into the eye. Such medications include Avastin (bevacizumab), Lucentis (ranibizumab), and Macugen (pegaptanib). Abnormally high levels of a growth factor called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) occur in eyes with wet macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion, and possibly other retinal diseases. In turn, VEGF promotes formation of abnormal new blood vessels that bleed or leak in a way that is harmful to the retina and the vision. The Anti-VEGF treatments listed treat this process.
Is Anti-VEGF treatment right for you? This drug treatment can slow down vision loss from wet macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy and in some cases improve sight. However, the treatment also carries a (low) risk of infection, retinal detachment, cataract, heart attack, high blood pressure, and stroke, so a discussion about the risks and benefits of treatment with your retinal doctor is important.
Sometimes a single dose is sufficient to control the problem, but often, multiple injections given as often as monthly may be needed. The eye is numbed and cleaned before each injection. After the injection, you will remain in the doctor's office for a brief period while the eye is monitored. |
|
Retina Center Minnesota
|
|
Contact Us Tel: (612) 871-2292 (800) 233-8504 Fax: (612) 871-0195 staff@retinadocs.com |