Comments on: “My First Avastin Injection:” A Patient Account

By: Randall V. Wong, M.D.

Randall V. Wong, M.D. — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 15:05:52 +0000

Dear Collin,

There must be some leakage or change in your vision? I am afraid I can’t offer much insight to this as I don’t have enough information from you.

Randy

By: Collin

Collin — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 06:46:47 +0000

Dear Dr. Wong,
I was diagnosed at 10 yrs old with Best Disease. My right eye is well into stage 4 if not 5 and my left eye has recently started to scramble. My doctor is recommending Avastin shots to help treat this. He wants to start with injections in my right eye first. I have found little information on the internet that pertains to Avastin working for Best patients. What I have found is that Avastin removes fluid, but does not significantly change the vision in Best patients. Do you have any insight on this?
Thank you in advance, I appreciate your time.
Collin

By: Randall V. Wong, M.D.

Randall V. Wong, M.D. — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 15:30:39 +0000

Dear Marty,

Present recommendations are to examine patients regularly then re-treat or re-inject as needed. Sounds like you are in good hands.

By: Marty

Marty — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 19:41:00 +0000

Hello Dr. Wong
After getting back to Indiana I have received 2 more injections witch make 6 all together. The eye doctor here took scans of the eye and said the macular was clear after the 4th injection and sees no reason to keep giving me injections. Even though the macular is clear I did not get any vision back. The vision in my left eye is about 20/100. I go back in 5 weeks to check for bleeding again but he said that he does not think I will gain any vision back.
Marty

By: Randall V. Wong, M.D.

Randall V. Wong, M.D. — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 18:19:28 +0000

Dear Cassie,

Sorry for the delay. It’s tough to say exactly what’s going on with you. I’m sure it has been resolved by now (since I took a few days in responding). You did the right thing by calling your doc and alerting them.

Randy

By: Cassie

Cassie — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 20:45:10 +0000

Dear Dr. Wong,
I had a severe eye injury a few months ago and was referred to a retina specialist. He told me that I have blood vessels forming close to the macula and that I needed the avastin shots to help clear them up. On Friday I had my first injection. I really didn’t have any problems until two day later. At that point my vision became blurry, the white part of my eye looks as though it has a bubble of fluid underneath it. My eye is also blood shot on both sides of my eye. I am also having a lot of burning and itching. I called my doctor twice this week to see what they suggested. Both times they seemed to think that it was just a reaction to the medicaiton they used to prep the eye before the injection and not from the avastin. They told me to keep using the artificial tears. Does this sound normal or should I be concerned? I don’t know what they used to numb my eye with etc.

By: Randall V. Wong, M.D.

Randall V. Wong, M.D. — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 13:46:42 +0000

Dear Ruthie,

It sounds as if you might be one of the few who might be terribly sensitive to Betadine, the preparation used to cleanse the eye prior to injection. I have several patients who are terribly uncomfortable for the entire day following an injection.

Ask your doc.

Randy

By: Ruthie

Ruthie — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:09:54 +0000

Hello Dr Wong,

I was hoping I was one of the few who would only need one Avastin injection but that was not to be. Upon returning home to NJ my vision began to change and I knew the macular edema was returning. It took about 2 months for this to present itself. After several tests the plan was to have five more injections one every five weeks.

This second injection, the first one being done in Florida, was very difficult. The preparation and the injection were fine but the aftermath was almost unbearable. I have glaucoma and take Cosopt 2x’s daily and Lumigan in the evening. I was told to continue all my drops including the antibiotic . Every drop burned but the Cosopt literally made my knees buckle. Because the burning, stinging, was so bad the eye felt irritated longer and it took several days to recuperate from the injection. As the injection was on a Friday I spoke to the office the following Monday and they said the doctor would discuss it with me on my next visit as the discomfort by this time was starting to subside,. I now have 10 days to go before the next injection and already am becoming nervous. Any suggestions?

Thanks ,
Ruthie

By: Randall V. Wong, M.D.

Randall V. Wong, M.D. — Mon, 16 May 2011 21:45:56 +0000

Dear Dan,

Thanks for the link!

Randy

By: Randall V. Wong, M.D.

Randall V. Wong, M.D. — Mon, 16 May 2011 21:45:22 +0000

Dear Jose,

No, not a common treatment, but I think it is a reasonable thing to consider if she has macular edema and is losing vision. Steroids are commonly used, too.

Randy