Retinal Procedures

Lucentis/Macugen Injections

Lucentis

Lucentis is a groundbreaking new drug therapy for macular degeneration approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on June 30, 2006. The drug has only been shown to be effective on those suffering from the wet form of macular degeneration. In some cases, the drug has resulted in improvement in vision after therapy. This is the first treatment that has shown actual improvement in patients suffering from this debilitating disease. Nearly all patients (95 percent) treated with Lucentis maintained their vision in the clinical trials for the drug. Vision improved by at least three lines (or 15 letters) on the study eye chart in up to 40 percent of these patients at one year. Lucentis is designed to inhibit the formation and leakage of new blood vessels in the back of the eye, the primary cause of central vision loss associated with this disease. The drug is injected by the surgeon directly into the eye under a local anesthetic and is performed in our office surgical suite on the day of your visit. Injections are typically given once a month and your surgeon will determine the continued course of your treatments. The most common side effects reported have been red eye, eye pain, and small specks in the vision that resolve with time. As with any surgical procedure, injections into the eye can rarely result in other serious side effects which will be discussed by your surgeon.

Macugen

Macugen is an FDA approved drug used in the treatment of the wet form of macular degeneration. It has been shown to slow the progress of the disease in clinical trials, which in turn helps preserve existing vision. The drug is injected by the surgeon directly into the eye under a local anesthetic and is performed in our in-house surgical suite on the day of your visit. Macugen is injected into the eye every 6 weeks. Your doctor will determine how long you'll need treatment. Be sure to attend follow-up appointments for eye exams and Macugen treatments according to your doctor's recommendations. Macugen works differently from other wet macular degeneration therapies because it blocks an essential signal that causes abnormal blood vessels to grow and leak. Macugen is not a cure, but it can help to slow further vision loss and also to help preserve what vision you currently have. Common side effects reported with Macugen include a burning sensation, eye pain, redness, light sensitivity, vision loss, blurred vision, visual disturbances, high blood pressure and cataract formation. Other side effects are possible and will be discussed by your surgeon.