Studies presented at AAO 2021 today suggested that a new implant could enable many patients with wet age-related macular degeneration to stop receiving monthly injections, according to research presented today at AAO 2021. But these treatments should never be seen as cures.

Eye injections utilizing anti-VEGF medications are used to treat neovascular (wet) macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema and retinal vein occlusion. Injections are given directly by doctors using small needles.

No Pain

An injection in your eye may seem intimidating, but its fearfulness may not be justified. Eye injections have become an indispensable tool in treating and preventing vision loss due to blinding retina conditions like wet age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema and retinal vein occlusion. With local anesthesia administered through tiny needles, injections can often be performed painlessly – with most patients reporting more unpleasant anticipation rather than actual experience of receiving their shot!

Intravitreal eye injections can significantly ease symptoms of wet macular degeneration. This condition occurs when blood vessels form under the retina, leading to fluid build-up that threatens vision and can even result in blindness. Wet macular degeneration is caused by an overproduction of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a protein which promotes abnormal blood vessel growth that grows out of places they shouldn’t. These new blood vessels often bleed or leak; anti-VEGF eye injections help stop production of VEGF and limit development of abnormal vessels over time.

Researchers recently interviewed patients receiving intravitreal eye injections to treat macular degeneration and found they reported very few side effects from treatment. Most described the procedure as being “not a big deal” with only minor discomfort caused by the iodine drops used to cleanse their surface prior to receiving injections; these irritants usually cause soreness for several hours following any eye procedure and typically clear within two or three days after injections have taken place.

At a clinic, injections are performed using local anesthetic drops that work quickly and take effect in seconds. Once numbness has set in, a clear sheet is placed over eyes/face and an injection given. Following injection, eye will be rinsed/wiped off thoroughly to avoid complications like dry eye. However, you must continue using lubricating eye drops daily in order to protect from dry eye complication; also note that eye injections may only provide temporary solutions, though many find their vision improves over several rounds of injections.

No Side Effects

Eye drops injection is quick and painless. Your doctor uses an ultra-thin needle to deliver medication directly into the retina – the thin layer of nerve cells at the back of your eye used for high-quality vision. While injecting, you may experience slight pressure but this should not cause discomfort.

After administering an injection, your retina specialist will provide instructions and visual aids that can help improve your low vision. Based on your condition, a specific regimen will be prescribed; your eye doctor will monitor this process throughout treatment which could last several months.

For wet age-related macular degeneration, injections will contain anti-VEGF drugs to stop abnormal blood vessels from forming and bleeding under the retina and reduce fluid leakage and inflammation. They also serve to slow down blind spot development while potentially restoring lost vision.

At an eye injection session, your retina specialist will first use antiseptic solution to disinfect the area surrounding your eye before inserting a speculum into it and holding your eye open with another instrument. Finally, medication will be injected using an ultra-thin needle while keeping its injection site as clean as possible.

As part of your treatment, you will visit your eye doctor periodically for follow-up. These visits will involve dilation of your eyes, an eye scan, and vision testing; all designed to determine dosage and schedule of injections that depend on how well they respond.

If you suffer from dry AMD, injections will typically consist of complement inhibitors; one such inhibitor was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration: pegcetacoplan (Syfovre). These drugs work by inhibiting specific parts of your immune system in order to halt progression of AMD; studies have also suggested they may help prolong central vision retention by doing so.

No Requirement for Prescriptions

Eye injections can help treat wet AMD, which involves abnormal blood vessel formation in the macula that leaks fluid onto its surface and causes blurry vision. While dry macular degeneration typically progresses slowly over time, wet AMD often progresses rapidly. Regular anti-VEGF drugs injections may help slow this progression into more advanced stages.

The injection procedure takes place in a clean room at the clinic and begins by first numbing your eye with local anesthetic drops, followed by inserting a small needle for injection; usually this step is pain-free.

Patients usually return home immediately following an injection, however some side effects may persist, including eye pain, itching, blurred vision or the feeling that something is lodged in their eye. Should these occur it is essential to contact an ophthalmologist as these could be signs of infection.

Medicare covers most eye injection costs; additional manufacturer funds can help offset these expenses. Costs and coverage will differ depending on factors like which drug a doctor prescribes, whether or not they accept Medicare assignment and where treatment occurs.

Some individuals who use anti-VEGF eye injections experience some improvement after consistently administering these injections; however, it should be remembered that anti-VEGF injections do not serve as a permanent solution for macular degeneration; once treatment stops, abnormal blood vessels which caused vision loss will return and continue to cause further vision loss.

People living with wet macular degeneration face a higher risk of losing their central vision without treatment, which is why it is vitally important to schedule regular eye injection appointments with their ophthalmologist. Not only will the injections provide medical benefits, but these appointments may help patients gain a better understanding of their condition and learn how best to manage it.

No Schedule Changes

Most patients suffering from wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can benefit from anti-VEGF therapy injections to slow or stop progression of their disease, and in some cases restore vision lost over time. Unfortunately, however, anti-VEGF injections require frequent visits to retina specialists for regular injections; one potential solution could be brolucizumab injections that would lessen frequency while also decreasing office visits.

Cell Reports Medicine published the study detailing a small-molecule inhibitor to suppress abnormal blood vessel growth found in wet AMD. Investigators observed a decrease in leakage into retina and progression of vision loss from taking place as a result. They are now working on adapting this compound so it can be given as an eyedrop treatment option.

Pegaptanib is part of a class of medications called Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) antagonists and works by blocking its action, which encourages blood vessel formation leading to wet macular degeneration. Pegaptanib must be prescribed by an eye doctor at regular intervals over an extended period depending on how the individual reacts to treatment.

Priyatham Mettu of Duke University retina specialist shared his experiences using injectable medications to treat wet macular degeneration during a recent BrightFocus discussion. To ensure the medication is working, regular follow-up visits and injections must be scheduled in order to track outcomes on an OCT scan or eye scan and compare these with frequency of injections.

VRMNY doctors typically begin treatment by administering three monthly injections at first. Once your condition has stabilized, we may reduce this frequency to weekly or monthly injections; a much more manageable schedule than photodynamic therapy’s monthly requirements for ongoing monitoring.