What is VEGF?

VEGF stands for Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor. It is a chemical or protein that our eyes prodcue when the macula, the center of our retina, is deprived of oxygen or is experiencing poor circulation.

Dr. Lylas Mogk, the author of Macular Degeneration: The Complete Guide to Saving and Maximizing Your Sight writes that ,"In fact the macular uses more oxygen for its size than any other area of the body."

When there is a lack of oxygen to the macula, it responds by producing VEGF proteins. These proteins leads to the development of new blood vessels.

Unfortunately there are several characteristics that make these blood vessels abnormal.

1. They Grow in an Abnormal Place

The blood vessels grow from the choroid layer through Bruch's Membrane. Dr Mogk likens it to tree roots growing under a sidewalk.

2. The Walls are Abnormal

The blood vessel walls are different than healthy blood vessels as they are very weak and fragile. As a result they leak fluid. This fluid floods the cone cells and causes them to die.

The growth of these blood vessels is painless. It is not something you feel. Patients who develop these fragile, leaky blood vessels have the wet form of macular degeneration.

Another name for wet AMD is choroidal neovascularization - which simply means new vessels in the choroid layer of the retina.

Anti-VEGF medication is used to stop the production of VEGF and ultimately reduce or prevent the development of these abnormal, leaky vessels. This macular degeneration medication is given as an injection into the eye.

The three anti-VEGF drugs used to treat macular degeneration are Macugen, Lucentis and Avastin.

To find out more about how these drugs work, how effective they are, and some of the current research click here:

Anti-VEGF Therapy

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Leslie Degner, RN, BSN

Better Health for Better Vision