Slowing vision loss

[cosmictraveler]

A new FDA approved drug called Macugen promises to slow vision loss and reduce the risk of blindness in older patients suffering from the wet form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is the primary cause of vision loss in people over 55 and the wet form occurs in 10% of cases. However, the wet form accounts for 90% of severe vision loss due to AMD. The growth of abnormal, leaky blood vessels below the retina causes wet AMD.


The leaking vessels damage the central vision. Mucagen stops the development of leaky blood vessels by blocking the vascular endothelial growth factor which causes it. Without treatment, all of central vision may be lost (near blindness) but peripheral vision will still be working. During studies, the drug was capable of stabilizing vision and in some causes even moderately improving it. Side effects include retinal detachment, eye lens injury and infection.


Source: summary of medical news story as reported by Web MD Medical News

http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/news/new_drug_prevents_vision_loss.htm

 

[Orleander]

....suffering from the wet form of age-related macular degeneration ...

soooo, there's a dry form?

 

[Hercules Rockefeller]

soooo, there's a dry form?

I see you are showing your usual level of recalcitrance. I found the answer in about the same amount of time it would have taken you to write your facetious question.

http://www.macugen.com/whatisAMD.asp

 

[madanthonywayne]

soooo, there's a dry form?

Dry macular degeneration is the more common form. It's usually seen in people age 65 or older and generally causes mild to moderate loss of vision. Drusen, the hallmark of age related macular degeneration (ARMD), are basically little bumps in the retina. You also get thin spots and disruptions in the retinal pigment epithelium.

All of these structural changes start to interfere with the normal function of the retina and are responsible for the mild to moderate vision loss usually seen in "dry" ARMD.

Much worse than the "dry" form is the "wet" form. In wet ARMD (about 10% or ARMD cases), the bumps and thin spots in the retina allow blood vessels from the vasular layer behind the retina (the choroid) to come thru into the retina. These abnormal blood vessels are what makes it "wet".

The growth of these abnormal blood vessels can totally destroy the macula which is responsible for your 20/20 vision leaving the patient with a giant scar where their macula used to be and leaving him legally blind.

The old treatment was to shoot the abnormal blood vessels with a laser and hope for the best. Unfortunately, while the laser was effective at killing the abnormal blood vessels, it also destroyed the macula. The patient often saw worse after treatment than before.

These new drugs (anti-Vegf) can stop the growth of the abnormal blood vessels. I've read reports of patients going from legally blind to 20/25. A major down side is that the treatment requires a shot in the eye every month or two. Perhaps indefinitely. Also, they must be used early in the course of the disease before a scar has formed to be effective.

Nevertheless, these drugs represent a giant step forward in the fight to prevent blindness from ARMD (which is one of the leading causes of blindness in the Western World).