Phase 2 studies of brolucizumab show similar efficacy to aflibercept (Eylea) for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and the drug is now advancing to Phase 3 trials. Wet AMD is becoming more prevalent and the higher the number of treatment options, the better. What is interesting is that the brolucizumab group in the study may… Read More
The risks of not using iodine during intravitreal injections
Intravitreal injections are frequently administered to patients with wet macular degeneration, retinal vein occlusion or diabetic eye disease. During the injection procedure, povidone-iodine drops are used to disinfect the ocular surface, which reduces the risk of post-injection infection in the eye (endophthalmitis – which is very rare but can cause significant visual loss if it… Read More
Scharioth Macula Lens – magnifier in the eye
The Scharioth Macula Lens (SML) is a magnifying add-on lens implant, designed for eyes which have already had cataract surgery and which also have macular disease such as macular degeneration. It aims to improve reading vision and near visual function significantly, by enabling reading of small print at short distances of around 15cm. The inventor… Read More
Avastin vs Lucentis for wet AMD
Avastin and Lucentis are intravitreal injections which are used to treat wet Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Avastin is not licensed for use in AMD but has a much lower cost and remains the most frequently used medicine for wet AMD in many countries, including the USA. A recent Cochrane systematic review analysed data from 6… Read More
Epimacular brachytherapy (X-rays) for wet macular degeneration
This novel treatment was designed for wet macular degeneration, and involves vitrectomy surgery combined with a device which shines radiation on the macula, in order to try to reduce the frequency of injections required. However after 12 months of treatment, it was not found to be effective, and in fact visual outcomes were worse when… Read More
New anti-VEGF agent for wet macular degeneration
Brolucizumab, a novel anti-VEGF agent for wet macular degeneration, has reported promising results in phase II clinical trials, and Phase III trials are underway. What is interesting is that many patients appear to be maintained on one of these injections every 12 weeks. More data will doubtless become available from larger studies in due course.… Read More
Avastin (bevacizumab) for wet AMD does not increase risk of stroke or heart attack
One of the largest studies to date to examine the relationship between single or multiple intravitreal injections of Avastin (bevacizumab) for wet macular degeneration, studying several thousand patients from British Columbia in Canada, has not found any increased risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack) or stroke in patients receiving the injections: http://www.ajo.com/article/S0002-9394%2815%2930005-2/abstract This is obviously… Read More
Treat-and-Extend injections for wet AMD
There has been increasing interest in the Treat-and-Extend model of dosing of intravitreal injections for wet macular degeneration, which aims to reduce the number of visits for patients while individualising treatment frequency depending on disease activity. This latest randomised clinical trial, although studying small numbers of patients, appears to show that this regimen led to… Read More
Intravitreal anti-VEGF injections do not increase risk of stroke, heart attack or death
This is a large and important study from Singapore. When Avastin was given in large doses intravenously for cancer treatment, an increased risk of stroke was observed. Therefore there was a theoretical risk that even the tiny doses of Avastin given into the eye could also be associated with a higher risk of stroke. This… Read More
Updated Guidelines for Intravitreal Injections
This expert panel have summarized that although face masks may be of value, the use of a drape for intravitreal injections has not been shown to reduce infection rates. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/846870?src=rss
