Both macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy can cause "blindness" from neovascularization. Both are diseases of the retina, both can lead to "blindness," both increase with age/time and both can be associated with abnormal blood vessel formation known as "neovascularization." The two diseases differ in the location of the neovascularization. Diabetic … [Read more...]
Avastin: An Adjunctive Therapy for Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy
January 27, 2010 By 11 Comments
Avastin® is useful for a variety of eye conditions; it is principally used to treat wet macular degeneration and is becoming a popular option to treat diabetic macular edema. On occasion, Avastin has also been useful, in my practice, to treat patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) also causes abnormal blood … [Read more...]
Blood in the Eye: You Make the Call
January 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Last week another long time patient of mine (as most are with diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration) returned with complaints of the sudden onset of floaters in the left eye. The floaters had been present for about one month, they hadn't cleared and he made an appointment. I've added this illustration that resembles what I saw after dilating his pupils. … [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 … [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...]
Laser Treatment Still The Best
November 13, 2009 By 1 Comment
Laser treatment for diabetic macular edema is still the preferred treatment for most patients with diabetic retinopathy. Despite all the recent news about intraocular injections of anti-VEGF and steroid medications, the laser remains the mainstay. The most common manifestation of diabetic retinopathy is the development of macular edema (also known as diabetic macular … [Read more...]
Addendum to “The Stages of Diabetic Retinopathy”
October 16, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Below is an addendum to yesterday's post. I omitted a "comment" about the 4 stages of diabetic retinopathy. I highlighted the change and pasted in the original post. Sorry. Comments: a) Macular edema can be present in any 4 of the stages. It is usually treated with laser treatment, but steroids or anti-VEGF medications may be useful, too. Macular edema, … [Read more...]
Diabetic Retinopathy: Have You Lost Vision from Diabetic Retinopathy?
October 15, 2009 By 2 Comments
There are 4 stages of diabetic retinopathy. Each stage is based upon the appearance of the retinas at the time of examination and are not based upon a patient's symptoms, including vision. Many people with early diabetic retinopathy have no symptoms. Therefore, regardless of whether you are experiencing symptoms, it is imperative that if you have diabetes you schedule … [Read more...]
Laser Treatment for Diabetic Retinopathy Still The Best: True Cases
September 24, 2009 By 1 Comment
I saw two patients (RJ and JR) yesterday that have the same "problem." They both are patients with diabetes and both have advanced, or proliferative, diabetic retinopathy. Both have had diabetes for over 20 years, are on insulin and have been treated with pan-retinal photocoagulation to control the proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Both still have 20/20 vision. … [Read more...]
Successful Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy
September 3, 2009 By 2 Comments
I have a patient, BG, with diabetes mellitus. BG has had diabetes for over 45 years. She is 60 years old. I saw her yesterday and will not see her for another 6 months. She has had a long course with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Her vision is 20/25 in both eyes. BG has had multiple laser treatments and vitrectomy surgery. I want to share her … [Read more...]
