Avastin – Eye Injections that Save Vision

What is Avastin?

Avastin Intravitreal (intraocular) injection is the drug applied directly into the eye where the highest concentration and the most potent drug efficacy are provided.

When are Avastin injections given?

We use them to treat many eye diseases, and most often for the treatment of :

• Macular edema
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Retinal vein occlusion,
• Inflammatory diseases
• Treatment of the wet form of age-related macular degeneration.

Is Avastin injection painful when administered to the eye?

The procedure is usually painless because a very thin and small needle is used, and the eye is anesthetized by the eyedrops.

The procedure – avastin injection

The procedure is performed in the operating room in sterile conditions.
Anesthesia in the form of the eye drops is performed prior to the procedure which is actually short, simple and painless.
Next few days after surgery, depending on the type of drug used, patient may see floaters in the treated eye. Over a period of time usually 1-3 months (depending on the type of medicine), the drug gradually dissolves.

Eye Injections – Avastin Application

Intravitreal injection uses the latest remedies for the treatment of the wet form of age-related macular degeneration that prevent the growth of new blood vessels in the eye (anti VEGF) and corticosteroids (triamcinolone acetonide and the like), which acts on edema and inflammatory changes in the retina.

Among the most common anti-VEGF drugs are:

Avastin® (bevacizumab) which non-selectively blocks endothelial blood vessel growth factor in the eye (VEGF). It is a drug that is primarily used in the treatment of colon cancer, where it also blocks the growth of new blood vessels and stops tumor growth. Avastin has been widely used in the past few years for the treatment of the wet form of macular degeneration, and some new indications such as diabetic retinopathy are also being introduced. Its application in the eye represents the so-called “Off label use” and the patient must be fully acquainted with the risks of such use and sign informed consent prior to the procedure.

Macugen
(Pegaptanib) is also a medicine from a group of anti-VEGF drugs that selectively blocks endothelial blood vessel growth factors in the eye. Its primary indication is the wet form of age-related macular degeneration and is approved by the US FDA for this indication. Its selective action provides greater safety in patients with increased risk for cardiovascular diseases.

Lucentis®
(ranibizumab) is also a non-selective anti-VEGF drug approved by the FDA for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD).

Kenalog® (triamcinolone acetonide) is a corticosteroid which is given into the vitreous body in order to reduce the macular edema in diabetic retinopathy, vascular occlusions, in the age-related macular in combination with antiVEGF drugs or PDT therapy, some inflammatory eye diseases and other rare conditions.

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