 |
LucentisTM Injection for Macular
Degeneration
INDICATIONS
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the
leading cause of blindness in people over 50 years
of age.
There are two types of macular degeneration: dry
and wet. In
the “wet” form of AMD, abnormal blood vessels grow
in the back of the eye. Sometimes these vessels leak
blood or fluid that causes blurred or distorted
vision. Without treatment, vision loss may be quick
and severe.
POSSIBLE BENEFITS, LIMITATIONS, AND
ADMINISTRATION
LucentisTM works by
inhibiting the growth of the abnormal blood vessels
that cause AMD.
It is also used to treat swelling of the
macula due to AMD. The goal of treatment is to
prevent further loss of vision. Although some
patients have regained vision, the medication may
not restore vision that has already been lost, and
may not ultimately prevent further loss of
vision caused by the disease.
After the
pupil is dilated and the eye is numbed with
anesthesia, the medication is injected into the
vitreous, or jelly-like substance in the back
chamber of the eye. LucentisTM
is administered by an injection into your eye as
needed at regular intervals (about every four or
five
weeks); your ophthalmologist will tell you how often
you will receive the injection, and for how long.
ALTERNATIVES
You do not have to receive treatment for your
condition, although without treatment, AMD can lead
to further vision loss and blindness, sometimes very
quickly. Other forms of treatment are available. At
present, there are two other FDA-approved treatments
for neovascular AMD: photodynamic
therapy with a drug called VisudyneTM
and injection into the eye of a drug called
MacugenTM.
Although both of these treatments have been proven
to slow down the rate of visual loss, most people do
not get back better vision. In addition to the
FDA-approved medications, some ophthalmologists use
other medications that were not specifically
approved for use in the treatment of AMD, but which
have shown some benefit. The two medications used
this way are
intravitreal KenalogTM—a
long-acting cortisone-like drug, and
AvastinTM—a
similar drug to LucentisTM.
|
New Lucentis v.
Stroke Information |
The interim
Lucentis study data showed that
Lucentis use in stroke patients may
lead to an increased risk of stroke.
However, once the final study was
complete, results showed that there
was no associated risk of stroke
in patients getting Lucentis
treatment. |
|
COMPLICATIONS FROM THE MEDICATION AND INJECTION
Complications of LucentisTM
in other body parts
A small number of patients (less than 4%)
experienced blood clots (arterial thromboembolic
events such as heart attack or stroke) after
administration of LucentisTM
and others had high blood pressure. There is no
evidence that LucentisTM
caused these complications. Whenever a medication is
used in a large number of patients, a small number
of coincidental life-threatening problems may occur
that have no relationship to the treatment. For
example, patients with
diabetes are already at increased risk for heart
attacks and strokes. If one of these patients being
treated with LucentisTM
suffers a heart attack or stroke, it may be caused
by the diabetes and not the LucentisTM
treatment.
KNOWN RISKS OF INTRAVITREAL EYE INFECTIONS
Your condition may not get better or may become
worse. Any or all of the following complications may
cause decreased vision and/or have a possibility of
causing blindness. Additional procedures may be
needed to treat these complications. During the
follow up visits or phone calls, you will be checked
for possible side effects and the results will be
discussed with you.
Possible complications of the procedure and
administration of LucentisTM
include but are not limited to
retinal detachment,
cataract
formation (clouding of the
lens of the eye),
glaucoma
(increased
pressure in the eye), hypotony (reduced
pressure in the eye), damage to the
retina or
cornea (structures of the eye), and bleeding.
There is also the possibility of an eye infection (endophthalmitis).
You may receive eye
drops with instructions on when to use them to
reduce the possibility of this occurring. Any of
these rare complications may lead to severe,
permanent loss of vision. Side effects may include
eye pain, subconjunctival hemorrhage (bloodshot
eye),
vitreous floaters, irregularity or swelling of
the cornea, inflammation of the eye, and visual
disturbances such as small specks in the vision.
Information
provided by: Ophthalmic
Mutual Insurance Company |
|
