Like the image game "Waldo," Macugen® seems to be lost in a sea of literature about other anti-VEGF intraocular injections. Macugen was; however, the first intraocular injection for the treatment of wet macular degeneration. It became FDA approved for the treatment of wet ARMD in 2004. Where is it now? The First anti-VEGF Intraocular Injection. Quite simply, this … [Read more...]
VEGF Causes Blindness in Diabetes and Macular Degeneration
December 14, 2009 By 3 Comments
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor is implicated in both diabetic retinopathy and wet macular degeneration. Anti-VEGF medications, such as Macugen®, Lucentis® and Avastin® have changed the way we handle both diseases. This week we'll review VEGF and the three key anti-VEGF medications. What is VEGF? Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is a substance that … [Read more...]
Tree Bark May Be Beneficial To Diabetics: Supplement or Drug?
December 11, 2009 By 2 Comments
"Ever Eat A Pine Tree? Many Parts are Edible." That famous line by Euell Gibbons lives on. Now, "researchers" have described that Pycnogenol®, an extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree, has the potential to improve vision in patients with diabetic retinopathy. The tree is found along the coast of southwest France. In a small study involving … [Read more...]
Sometimes You Just Need a Vitrectomy
December 10, 2009 By 16 Comments
A vitrectomy is an eye operation. It is performed by retina specialists for a variety of reasons. In patients with diabetic retinopathy, a vitrectomy may be useful to remove blood in the vitreous, aka a vitreous hemorrhage. There is no reason, to perform a vitrectomy in cases of macular degeneration. In cases of vitreous hemorrhage, bleeding has and blood remains … [Read more...]
No Laser for Macular Degeneration…..We’ve Come a Long Way, Baby!
December 9, 2009 By 2 Comments
I have been in practice for about 17 years. The present treatments for the treatment of macular degeneration are a godsend compared to the standards we used in the 1990's. At that time, laser treatment for wet macular degeneration was our only weapon.............and it was horrible. State of the art treatment in the early 90's involved using a laser to treat the … [Read more...]
Steroids Likely to Help Diabetes
December 8, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Ok, maybe a bit dramatic, but another article was recently published stating that intravitreal injections were used with success to treat diabetic macular edema. These effects lasted at least 5 years, the duration of the study. This was a small study where two groups were compared. One group received intravitreal injections of triamcinalone (a steroid) for the … [Read more...]
You Only Need Good Vision in One Eye to Keep Driving!
December 7, 2009 By Leave a Comment
In most states, you only need one eye to maintain a driver's license. Most states require one eye to have at least 20/40. In addition, a certain degree of peripheral vision, or continuous field of vision, is required to qualify for an unrestricted license. A restricted license may still be obtained with slightly lower requirements. Please check your own state … [Read more...]
Eye Injections Challenge Eye Laser for Diabetic Retinopathy
December 3, 2009 By Leave a Comment
There is a small study just published in the journal "Ophthalmology" stating that intraocular injections of Lucentis® were superior to laser photocoagulation for the treatment of diabetic macular edema. As you read this, don't forget that the "gold-standard" for treatment of diabetic macular edema is still laser photocoagulation. These "studies" are very small and not … [Read more...]
Tips On Choosing an “Eye” Doctor: A Retina Specialist?
December 2, 2009 By 4 Comments
You suspect you might have macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy. How do you choose a doctor? A little while back, I wrote about the differences between eye doctors. Now that you know the difference between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist, how do you choose which is right for you? When do you need to see a retinal specialist? Remember that … [Read more...]
Retina Laser Treatment Saves Vision
December 1, 2009 By 3 Comments
There are two conditions where laser treatment is needed in patients with diabetic retinopathy: macular edema and evidence of proliferative retinopathy. In cases where macular edema, swelling of the retina in the macular area, is present, "focal" photocoagulation is needed. In cases of proliferative diabetic retinopathy, "pan-retinal photocoagulation," or PRP, is … [Read more...]
