|
Lucentis Improves Vision in Macular Degeneration
|
|
Over the past few years there has been a tremendous amount of interest in the development of medicines for the treatment of wet macular degeneration- the leading cause of blindness in the elderly. According to two large randomized clinical studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Lucentis is the first medicine to be able to reverse visual loss in those with wet age-related macular degeneration.
Macular degeneration is a medical condition in which the light sensing cells in the retina degenerate. There are two types of macular degeneration- the dry and wet types. The wet type accounts for nearly 9 out of 10 cases of blindness.
In both the studies, the effects of injecting Lucentis directly into the jelly of the eye, were compared with doses of sham injection or treatment with photodynamic therapy- a treatment that involves laser activation of a medicine called Visudyne.
Overall, Lucentis, which is injected into the eye every 6 weeks, was able to stop further visual loss in 95% of people. It also significantly improved vision in nearly one quarter to one third of subjects. Most patients who received placebo or Visudyne lost vision over this period of time. Injection with Lucentis, however, was not without risk; 1% of patients developed serious eye infections, and another 1% developed significant inflammation.
Those with wet macular degeneration should seek immediate medical attention if they notice new distortion or loss of vision. Lucentis may be considered for treating this condition, as it now becomes the first medicine to be proven by way of large randomized clinical trial to reverse visual loss on those with wet macular degeneration.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|