Comments on: Macular Degeneration http://www.retinaeyedoctor.com Randall V. Wong, M.D., Retinal Specialist Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:41:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: Randall V. Wong, M.D. http://www.retinaeyedoctor.com/macular-degeneration/comment-page-1/#comment-1848 Randall V. Wong, M.D. Sat, 19 Feb 2011 23:18:49 +0000 http://retinaeyedoctor.com/?page_id=169#comment-1848 Dear Deepak, I apologize for the delay. Overall, I think Mom is doing okay, albeit with one eye. While it is impossible for me to second guess your retina specialist, I'd have to carefully weigh options for the Wet eye, that is, how much better is the dry eye? If the two are equal, I'd do everything to keep what she has. AREDS2 will determine if the above mentioned elements impact the disease....right now, we just don't know. I'm not sure that VEGF trap is going to be any better than Lucentis/Avastin. Our best bet is sustained release. This may be available within the next few years. Stem cells are still in the distant future. Randy Dear Deepak,

I apologize for the delay. Overall, I think Mom is doing okay, albeit with one eye. While it is impossible for me to second guess your retina specialist, I’d have to carefully weigh options for the Wet eye, that is, how much better is the dry eye? If the two are equal, I’d do everything to keep what she has.

AREDS2 will determine if the above mentioned elements impact the disease….right now, we just don’t know. I’m not sure that VEGF trap is going to be any better than Lucentis/Avastin. Our best bet is sustained release. This may be available within the next few years. Stem cells are still in the distant future.

Randy

]]> By: Deepak http://www.retinaeyedoctor.com/macular-degeneration/comment-page-1/#comment-1813 Deepak Thu, 10 Feb 2011 14:02:54 +0000 http://retinaeyedoctor.com/?page_id=169#comment-1813 Dear Randy, My Mom has Wet AMD in left eye and Dry AMD in right eye. She has had several Avastin injections since Jan 2007 and had one PDT in Mar 2007. Her left eye vision has remained at almost 6/18 (metric scale) in the left eye and not much improvement/deterioration since start of Avastin though it does seem that she has two exudative areas. Also note that Avastin was given not monthly but as needed based on OCT (PRN method ?) and maybe averaged once every 3-6 months. 1) Should she continue Avastin in left eye? One Doc is suggesting PDT but I am opposed to it since PDT is somewhat legacy and can also prevent future recovery by also affecting good blood vessels. I think we should continue Avastin (and consider Lucentis after CATT early results - when are they coming?). I can share OCT if needed for you to make a determination. 2) For right eye Dry AMD - right now consuming AREDS2 supplements with Lutien, Zeaxanthin, Omega 3 fatty acids. Do you also suggest UV coating on her lens. Or should she go for a coating that also blocks visible violet light? Anything else that we can do to prevent the monstrous Wet AMD looming large? 3) Anything up on the next 1- 2year horizon that she can try? Sustained release Lucentis/Avastin ? VEGF Trap Eye, Stem Cells? Thanks! Deepak Dear Randy,
My Mom has Wet AMD in left eye and Dry AMD in right eye. She has had several Avastin injections since Jan 2007 and had one PDT in Mar 2007. Her left eye vision has remained at almost 6/18 (metric scale) in the left eye and not much improvement/deterioration since start of Avastin though it does seem that she has two exudative areas. Also note that Avastin was given not monthly but as needed based on OCT (PRN method ?) and maybe averaged once every 3-6 months.

1) Should she continue Avastin in left eye? One Doc is suggesting PDT but I am opposed to it since PDT is somewhat legacy and can also prevent future recovery by also affecting good blood vessels. I think we should continue Avastin (and consider Lucentis after CATT early results – when are they coming?). I can share OCT if needed for you to make a determination.

2) For right eye Dry AMD – right now consuming AREDS2 supplements with Lutien, Zeaxanthin, Omega 3 fatty acids. Do you also suggest UV coating on her lens. Or should she go for a coating that also blocks visible violet light? Anything else that we can do to prevent the monstrous Wet AMD looming large?

3) Anything up on the next 1- 2year horizon that she can try? Sustained release Lucentis/Avastin ? VEGF Trap Eye, Stem Cells?

Thanks!
Deepak

]]> By: Randall V. Wong, M.D. http://www.retinaeyedoctor.com/macular-degeneration/comment-page-1/#comment-1809 Randall V. Wong, M.D. Thu, 10 Feb 2011 03:51:09 +0000 http://retinaeyedoctor.com/?page_id=169#comment-1809 Dear John, This doesn't make a lot of sense to me. I'm suspicious of both docs since you've never lost vision. Good luck. Randy Dear John,

This doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. I’m suspicious of both docs since you’ve never lost vision.

Good luck.

Randy

]]> By: john http://www.retinaeyedoctor.com/macular-degeneration/comment-page-1/#comment-1807 john Wed, 09 Feb 2011 23:57:41 +0000 http://retinaeyedoctor.com/?page_id=169#comment-1807 hi, i went to my optomologist for a routine eye exam. im 52 years old. he said i have dry MD. i went to a retinal specialist for another opinion. he showed me a oct image of my retina and it was wavy. he said it should not be . he said i dont have MD but i do have central serous retinopathy. i never lost any vision. does this make sence.? thanks. hi, i went to my optomologist for a routine eye exam. im 52 years old. he said i have dry MD. i went to a retinal specialist for another opinion. he showed me a oct image of my retina and it was wavy. he said it should not be . he said i dont have MD but i do have central serous retinopathy. i never lost any vision. does this make sence.? thanks.

]]> By: Shan http://www.retinaeyedoctor.com/macular-degeneration/comment-page-1/#comment-1710 Shan Wed, 26 Jan 2011 13:48:17 +0000 http://retinaeyedoctor.com/?page_id=169#comment-1710 Thanks for your reply, Dr. Thanks for your reply, Dr.

]]> By: Randall V. Wong, M.D. http://www.retinaeyedoctor.com/macular-degeneration/comment-page-1/#comment-1708 Randall V. Wong, M.D. Wed, 26 Jan 2011 12:18:49 +0000 http://retinaeyedoctor.com/?page_id=169#comment-1708 Dear Shan, Retina specialists, and other doctors, can detect neovascularization before bleeding takes place. You should give your doctors more credit and listen to them. The injections can be given regardless of bleeding. Randy Dear Shan,

Retina specialists, and other doctors, can detect neovascularization before bleeding takes place. You should give your doctors more credit and listen to them.

The injections can be given regardless of bleeding.

Randy

]]> By: Shan http://www.retinaeyedoctor.com/macular-degeneration/comment-page-1/#comment-1702 Shan Tue, 25 Jan 2011 18:59:21 +0000 http://retinaeyedoctor.com/?page_id=169#comment-1702 Hello Doc, I really like the information on the website. It is very very helpful and provide good knowledge for people like mw. I do have a question. Can RS detect abnormal blood vessel growth before it breaks.The reason behind me question is I was supposed to go for routine eye exam to my RS, but skipped it and then 2 months later had a hammeroage. Wondering if I had gone for the routine exam , could have prevented this. Also , even if the RS can detect the blood vessel grwowth , do they treat this with Avsatin or Lucentis rightaway, or does it have to break for them to treat with injection. Thanks in advance. Hello Doc, I really like the information on the website. It is very very helpful and provide good knowledge for people like mw. I do have a question. Can RS detect abnormal blood vessel growth before it breaks.The reason behind me question is I was supposed to go for routine eye exam to my RS, but skipped it and then 2 months later had a hammeroage. Wondering if I had gone for the routine exam , could have prevented this. Also , even if the RS can detect the blood vessel grwowth , do they treat this with Avsatin or Lucentis rightaway, or does it have to break for them to treat with injection. Thanks in advance.

]]> By: Randall V. Wong, M.D. http://www.retinaeyedoctor.com/macular-degeneration/comment-page-1/#comment-1662 Randall V. Wong, M.D. Wed, 19 Jan 2011 13:05:21 +0000 http://retinaeyedoctor.com/?page_id=169#comment-1662 Dear Marion, I am delighted I could help. Thanks for sharing your great "find" and leaving your endorsement. Stay in touch. Randy Dear Marion,

I am delighted I could help. Thanks for sharing your great “find” and leaving your endorsement.

Stay in touch.

Randy

]]> By: Marion http://www.retinaeyedoctor.com/macular-degeneration/comment-page-1/#comment-1659 Marion Wed, 19 Jan 2011 11:47:24 +0000 http://retinaeyedoctor.com/?page_id=169#comment-1659 THANK YOU DR. TO MY LAST REQUEST....I FOUND A LITE CALLED OTT LIGHT. IT IS A GOOSENECK LAMP AND I CAN SEE A LITTLE BETTER TO READ.. I WOULD RECOMMEND ME THIS TO SOMEONE WHO NEEDS BETTER LIGHTING....THANK YOU AGIN FOR YOUR REPLY... THANK YOU DR. TO MY LAST REQUEST….I FOUND A LITE CALLED OTT LIGHT. IT IS A GOOSENECK LAMP AND I CAN SEE A LITTLE BETTER TO READ.. I WOULD RECOMMEND ME THIS TO SOMEONE WHO NEEDS BETTER LIGHTING….THANK YOU AGIN FOR YOUR REPLY…

]]> By: Macular Degeneration Decreasing in the U.S. http://www.retinaeyedoctor.com/macular-degeneration/comment-page-1/#comment-1656 Macular Degeneration Decreasing in the U.S. Tue, 18 Jan 2011 16:49:40 +0000 http://retinaeyedoctor.com/?page_id=169#comment-1656 [...] Mac Degen [...] [...] Mac Degen [...]

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