Wet Macular degeneration

[Cliff555]

I was told I have wet macular degeneration. My question is what can I do about that.  I was told they could use a laser and stop the blood flow  but that made me afraid I would lose some sight.  Any thoughts?  

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Wet macular degeneration is the worst kind. 90% of cases of legal blindness (not total blindness) are due to Wet mac degen even though only 10% of the cases are wet, 90% are dry and its better to have. The dry can turn into the wet time any time so any sudden change of vision or increase of distortion on the Amsler grid is an emergency.

Please use the search feature on this page to read previous posts about wet macular degeneration. The laser is NOT used any more to treat wet MD.  Treatment is either using a photodynamic dye called visudyne therapy or injection a VEGF inhibitor (Avastin, Lucentis) directly into the eye to dry up the blood vessles or injection a steroid into the eye (Macugen). These treatments have dramatically improved the prognosis for wet MD even though it remains a very serious eye problem. It is important to know that it can occur in BOTH eyes.  

Waiting is NOT good idea and proceeding with a VEGF injection ASAP is indicated. Treatment is almost always done by a Eye MD that specializes in retinal disease.

JCH III MD

JCH III MD

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

In the opinion of most retina specialists Avastin is just as good as Lucentis. Both drugs are made by the same company. The company has just taken steps to reduce the ability of retina doctors to obtain Avastin. Collectively and through our professional organizations we are trying to get the company to continue selling the drugs to compounding pharmacies who then dilute the drug down to the dosage that the eye needs.

Using Avastin for wet macular degeneration is an "off label" use of the mediciation. That is not at all unusual. It can be years and years before the FDA approves drugs for a certain use long after doctors find that a certain drug saves lives and is effective for other things. (an examples is the use of xylocaine for heart arrythmia when it was only approved for local anesthesia. I think that took 6 years before heart use was "approved")

Anyway both Avastin and Lucentis which is approved for wet AMD are made by the same company. That company is not going to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to do a study to approve Avastin for wet AMD especially when it costs only a fraction of the cost of Lucentis.

The company is also citing fears of being sued for "off label" use and this is yet another example of how the out of control lawsuit industry and trial lawyers raise the cost of medical care and prevent the use of certain medications that may be cheaper or more effective.

If I were you and the retina surgeon can still get Avastin I use it its every bit as good as Lucentis.

JCH III MD

[harry82]

As with you I have been diagnosed with wet Macular degeneration.
I am interested in what you have done since your posting.
I was told that I needed to undergo a treatment using an injection in the eye with a drug called Avastin. I am due to have this done next week. Thee is another drug called Lucentis which is supposed to be better.I do  not having any Drug insurance planand lucentis costs
$2400.00 and I cannot afford it. Avastin is expensive too but much less.........$360.00
I assume you have done some searching. I would like to find a forum where they are discussing results and costs.
Please let me know what you have found.\
harry82