Treatments Proven Effective by Controlled Trials

The abnormal growth of new blood vessels in Wet MD causes bleeding, leakage and scarring which results in severe loss of central vision. This can occur very rapidly, requiring urgency in seeking appropriate treatments. The new blood vessels are prompted to grow by a protein called Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF).

Lucentis (ranibizumab)

Lucentis is currently the treatment of choice for Wet MD. Lucentis is an anti-VEGF drug which is injected into the eye to block the protein responsible for the growth of new blood vessels. This anti-VEGF drug is injected into the eye cavity where it can spread to the retina. The injections are generally administered at four week intervals.

Other Treatments
Avastin (bevacizumab)

Avastin is an anti-VEGF drug, like Lucentis, which is injected into the eye. It was not designed for use in the eye. It was primarily tested and approved for the treatment of cancer. Avastin has been used worldwide in the past 2 to 3 years for treating patients with Wet MD. Many case reports suggest that it is safe and highly effective. In order to prove this it is undergoing a head-to-head, controlled clinical trial comparing it to monthly Lucentis injections. Like Lucentis, it appears that Avastin needs to be injected repeatedly to maintain its effect. It is still not clear as to how often the injection should be given. Avastin is primarily used because it is substantially cheaper.

Triamcinolone (Kenacort)

A slow release steroid designed for injection into joints, it has been used 'off label' by some retinal specialists to supplement CNV treatments particularly Photodynamic Therapy. It appears to have a beneficial effect when used in conjunction with PDT but has been shown in a controlled trial to be ineffective as a sole treatment. It is injected into the eye but promotes cataract formation and in a third of patients increases the intraocular pressure often necessitating glaucoma treatment. Side effects increase with repeated injections.