Anti-VEGF
Intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF medications. VEGF stands for vascular endothelial growth factor. In wet AMD, the main cause of new blood vessels formation is VEGF, which will form abnormal blood vessels that bleed and leak easily. New medications are made to act against these growth factors and inhibit or prevent the formation of new abnormal blood vessels. We can see also new blood vessels in many ocular diseases other than Wet AMD. These diseases are diabetic retinopathy, central retinal vein occlusion, premature retinopathy and sickle cell retinopathy. The main cause behind new blood vessels formation in these disease are the release of VEGF. These medications are Bevacizumab, Pegaptanib and Ranibizumab. A new medication called VEGF Trap Eye is in the process of being approved by FDA. 1- RanibizumabRanibizumab or Lucentis is a monoclonal antibody that will bind and inhibit the action of VEGF especially VEGF-A.In wet AMD,it is used as intraocular injection, once a month for 3 months. 2- BevacizumabBevacizumab or avastin is also monoclonal antibody which will bind and inhibit the action of VEGF especially VEGF-A.This drug has U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the treatment of metastatic cancer like colon cancer and breast cancer. Although not currently approved by FDA, Avastin showed promising positive results in treatment of new blood vessels formation and also in diabetic macular edema.
3- VEGF Trap EyeThis is a new intravitreal medication that works by blocking the action of two growth factors which as Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and Placental Growth Factor ( P1GF).For more information about Trap Eye, Click here
Watch this video about Intraocular Injection
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