Ozurdex is a new injectable drug delivery system for the eye. Over the past few months we've talked about new technology and the emergence of several sustained release drug delivery systems. About 2 weeks ago, I injected the left eye of one of my patients with Ozurdex™. Ozurdex will release a steroid, dexamethasone, for up to 6 months. The FDA approved Ozurdex for the treatment of … [Read more...]
The Risks of Eye Injections
December 29, 2009 By 3 Comments
The risks and complications of injections into the eye are low. The most dreaded complication of intravitreal injections is infection inside the eye (aka endophthalmitis). The risk of endophthalmitis is reported to be about 0.09%. Endophthalmitis can cause blindness. As more and more intravitreal injections are delivered for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy and wet macular … [Read more...]
New Macular Degeneration Drug on the Horizon
December 23, 2009 By Leave a Comment
A company, Ophthotech, recently announced their drug is now funded to enter Phase II FDA trials for testing. Their new drug, E10030, is an aptamer (similar to an antibody) targeted against "Platelet Derived Growth Factor." The aptamer is designed to specifically bind to PDGF and prevent "plugging-in" to its receptor. The drug is novel for two reasons; 1) it is directed at a second protein … [Read more...]
“Cross My Heart, Hope to Die, Stick a Needle in My…”
December 18, 2009 By 21 Comments
I give intravitreal eye injections everyday! It is one of the most rewarding things I do! And they come back for more! My patients love it because anti-VEGF injections usually work really well, especially if the wet form of macular degeneration is caught early. Suspicion Confirmed When I examine a patient and suspect that a patient has wet macular degeneration, I'll usually confirm the … [Read more...]
Lucentis: Another Shot in the Eye, Effective TX for ARMD
December 16, 2009 By 1 Comment
Lucentis™ is the second intraocular, anti-VEGF injection FDA approved for the treatment of wet macular degeneration. It was approved in 2006. It fast became the mainstay of the treatment for wet macular degeneration. It is still popular today among retina specialists for treatment of wet macular degeneration. Facts About Lucentis FDA approved for the treatment of Wet Macular … [Read more...]
Macugen: First anti-VEGF Eye Injection….so, Where’s Waldo?
December 14, 2009 By 2 Comments
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 was a significant change … [Read more...]
Shot in the Eye: Safe and…..Painless
November 25, 2009 By 9 Comments
Intraocular injections are given all the time. They don't hurt. Intraocular injections of anti-VEGF medications (e.g. Avastin®, Lucentis ®and Macugen®) are given for the treatment of macular degeneration and also, sometimes, diabetic retinopathy. A retinal specialist sees a variety of patients with retina disease, but most of the patients have either macular degeneration or diabetic … [Read more...]
