New VEGF Inhibitor Drugs Treat Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy patients may benefit from the
new macular degeneration drugs. Studies are
under way.
There are several clinical studies underway
evaluating the use of
VEGF inhibitor drugs for
treatment of
Diabetic Retinopathy. The
outcomes of these studies are very encouraging for those patients
suffering from
diabetic macular edema.
VEGF inhibitors, (Anti-VEGFs) are
drugs that have been used for the treatment
of wet
macular degeneration (AMD) since 2005.
Recently, ophthalmologists have had great success in
treating diabetic retinopathy patients with the
injectable drug.
Anti-VEGF drugs work by blocking or suppressing the
formation of abnormal new blood vessel growth in the
retina -- the light-sensitive, multi-layered
tissue that lines the back of the eyeball.
These abnormal new blood vessels leak and cause
fluid build-up, or edema, in the layers of the
retina
-- reducing
vision.
In diabetic retinopathy, new blood vessel growth can
not only cause edema in the retina, but it can bleed
into the retina or the
vitreous, causing rapid
vision loss.
Anti-VEGF medications, like
Macugen™,
Avastin™,
and Lucentis™,
may be the next available line of treatment for
diabetic patients with edema or hemorrhaging.
Although these are only early observations on the
drug's success in treating diabetic retinopathy,
studies continue to evaluate the safety and efficacy
of VEGF inhibitors in diabetic patients.
It is important to note that, although readily
available and commonly practiced, the FDA has not
approved the drugs for treatment of diabetic
retinopathy.
It is questionable whether
Medicare and insurance companies will cover their
costs prior to FDA approval.
We will post any major new
findings to this website.
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