One dose of anti-VEGF drug Aflibercept (Eylea) typically costs from $1,850 – $2,200 retail while bevacizumab (Avastin) typically ranges from $55 retail.

Genetic testing could result in a net financial return of $260 million per additional patient receiving early treatment for NVAMD.

What is the Cost of Treatment for Wet AMD?

The leading cause of blindness in the world is age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The condition can be classified as either wet, characterised by neovascularisation, or dry, characterised by atrophy. In wet AMD, the growth of abnormal blood vessels can lead to vision loss and potentially blindness within a short period. Wet AMD can be treated with repeated intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF drugs, which are thought to prevent new blood vessel growth and block vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the eye. The two most commonly used medicines are ranibizumab (Lucentis) and aflibercept (Eylea). However, a third very similar drug, bevacizumab (Avastin), is not licensed in the UK for wet AMD but has shown similar efficacy to these drugs in multiple studies.

The researchers compared direct costs, appointment travel costs and vision impact of four different wet AMD treatment paradigms: continuous monthly treatments with a minimum of two exams per year; the office-based treat-and-extend protocol that includes an exam and optical coherence tomography (OCT) with each injection; pro re nata (PRN), in which patients are offered an in-office evaluation only when active disease is present; and the popular injection series approach in which patients receive same-day examinations at the start of each injection series to determine the number of injection-only visits required for each series. They also compared the effectiveness of each paradigm in preventing progression to advanced wet AMD in the fellow eye.

They found that the use of modifier-25 same-day examinations during anti-VEGF therapy for wet AMD significantly reduces treatment and travel costs in the United States, resulting in significant cost savings and improved quality of life (QoL) for wet AMD patients. This is a very important finding, as many healthcare providers are currently not using this modality for wet AMD due to reimbursement concerns. The authors concluded that aflibercept and ranibizumab should continue to be used as first-line therapies for wet AMD, but physicians should consider offering patients the cheaper unlicensed drug bevacizumab in addition to these two expensive medicines, which could help to reduce NHS expenditure on this important therapy.

What is the Cost of Treatment for Dry AMD?

Macular degeneration is a progressive eye condition that affects the central part of your vision, leading to gradual loss of sharp, clear vision over time, creating difficulty reading or driving. While treatments such as eye injections or laser treatment may help retain some vision, costs for these therapies vary based on both insurance coverage and doctor recommendations.

Dry macular degeneration (AMD), which leads to blurry and distorted vision, is the most prevalent form. It is marked by small yellow spots called drusen that form in the layer of cells under your retina and typically appear near the center of your field of vision. Small drusen have the lowest risk for wet AMD since changes that lead to progression such as blood vessel growth are less likely.

Today there are numerous effective medications available to treat dry AMD. Anti-VEGF drugs, injections which block the action of an abnormal blood vessel promoting protein known as VEGF, are typically the first line of defense against this condition and many patients require eight injections annually; each injection costs PS800 with many patients needing eight shots annually; in studies such as IVAN trial a cheaper unlicensed alternative called bevacizumab has shown to have similar efficacy as more expensive ranibizumab and aflibercept.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT), which combines medication and light therapy, may also be effective against wet AMD. PDT involves receiving an injection of Visudyne drug and activating it with low-energy laser light treatment to destroy abnormal blood vessels in your retina. However, PDT may only be suitable for about 40-60 percent of wet AMD patients due to specific blood vessel growth patterns that determine eligibility.

Ten years ago, wet age-related macular degeneration was almost untreatable; but advances in anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs have dramatically decreased its risk of blindness by two thirds and may help some wet AMD patients restore or improve their vision.

What is the Cost of Treatment for Eye Injections?

Eye injections are an efficient and direct way to administer medication to the back of the eye (the vitreous cavity), where they’re needed. Eye injections may be prescribed to treat conditions like age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusions and other issues affecting light-sensitive retina.

Eye injections can also help mitigate fluid leakage that threatens vision in wet AMD, and improve it by stopping abnormal blood vessels from forming. Eye injections typically involve anti-VEGF medication being injected via fine needle directly into the eye. This medication blocks abnormal blood vessel formation under the retina in wet AMD; different forms are available such as Eylea (Aflibercept), Bevacizumab (Avastin) and Brolucizumab (Beovu). A more recent drug called Faricimab-svoa (Vabysmo) works similarly by blocking another protein involved in creating abnormal blood vessel creation – making an injection necessary.

As with other types of AMD, wet AMD requires repeated injections to prevent further vision loss, with your doctor suggesting you remain on treatment until it has done its job. Recent research, however, indicates that some individuals suffering from wet AMD may be able to discontinue treatment depending on the extent of vision damage they’ve sustained.

Eye injections are generally safe, yet can still cause some discomfort. You might feel some slight pain during and after receiving the injection; or experience blurriness of vision for several hours afterwards. To alleviate these effects, having someone drive you home after your appointment would be useful; alternatively taking over-the-counter painkillers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen before your appointment may also help.

If you have Medicare, use this Medicare search tool to learn about coverage of specific injectable macular degeneration treatments. In addition, speak to an insurance representative about what’s covered.

What is the Cost of Treatment for Laser Surgery?

Cost of laser surgery varies according to the type of procedure and your geographic location, making choosing a surgeon on qualifications and experience rather than price alone vital for successful results. A high-end clinic may charge more due to having more sophisticated equipment at their disposal.

Laser eye surgery (LASIK) is an increasingly popular choice for correcting vision problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. This procedure uses a laser beam to alter the cornea’s surface so light can focus correctly onto your retina. LASIK procedures usually take less than 20 minutes while you sleep – you should expect some postoperative side effects including dry and itchy eyes but this should improve with time.

Laser skin resurfacing treatments can effectively treat fine lines and wrinkles, age spots and sun damage on the face, as well as even out skin tone and texture, giving more radiant glow. Laser energy stimulates collagen production for enhanced skin elasticity and more youthful appearance; unlike invasive procedures this procedure is quick and painless.

Hair removal with laser therapy is another popular laser procedure, helping remove unwanted hair without shaving or waxing while simultaneously helping prevent further growth in treated areas. A typical laser hair removal session usually lasts six to 10 sessions with costs ranging from $250 up to $650 depending on where the treatment area lies.

Laser resurfacing treatments are not covered by insurance policies; however, flexible spending accounts or tax-deductible plans may offer coverage. Furthermore, many plastic surgeons provide patient financing plans to make the procedure more affordable for their clients.