Lucentis Injections opposed to Photo Dynamic Therapy for wet amd
by Ann
(Blackpool Lancashire United Kingdom)
I have recently been diagnosed with wet amd in my right eye and had my first laser treatment (pdt) last Wednesday.
I was also offered Lucentis but advised that there were more serious side effects for me as I had been very short sighted even in my youth and there was more chance of a detached retina in my case. However the decision was left to me.
Has anyone had any experience of either of these treatments?
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Wet Macular Degeneration Treatment- Lucentis Injections
by Harold
(United States)
Wet Macular Doctor in Winston-Salem, N. C. A retina specialist, and etc. Not sure about mine.
I will receive my 4th injection of Lucentis on December 13. No better sight in left eye.
What is your recommendation? Thanks for the Ministry of serving others for this disease. God Bless you.
REPLY
Hi Harold,
Thanks for your question. This is a good time to explain to readers the website disclaimer:
"This website is for educational purposes only and does not provide specific medical advice.
Use of this web site does not replace medical consultation with a qualified health or medical professional to meet the health and medical needs of you or others."
That said, I'm happy to help with questions that you could ask your ophthalmologist regarding your treatment.
1. What are my treatment options?
2. What is the goal of the treatment?
3. What are the benefits of each of these treatments?
4. What are the possible risks or side effects of this treatment?
For a more complete list of other questions one should ask their eye doctor go to:
Questions for Your Doctor
To learn more about lucentis click here:
Lucentis
Kind Regards,
Leslie Degner, RN, BSN
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Lucentis Injections for Dry Macular Degeneration?
by Grace
(Canada)
My 85 year old mother has been recommended to have the lucentis injections for her eye condition.
They say she has dry macular degeneration but also has some blood vessel problems in the eye that are not wet macular degeneration.
I have not spoken with the doctor, this is the information as relayed by my mother.
She is on Warfarin and Digitoxen for her heart and has had a history of diverticulitis including surgery a few years ago.
Are there any additional risks she should discuss with a doctor. (She doesn't have a family doctor).
Any information or suggestions you could provide would be appreciated.
Grace
Reply
Dear Grace,
I am not in a position to know exactly what is being recommended for your mother. As you may know, Lucentis is indicated for the treatment of wet macular degeneration, not dry. There may be some other "off-label" condition for which the doctor wants to try Lucentis, but you'd have to ask.
I am not aware that the medications you listed are to be of any concerns, but I would suggest you contact (or have your mom do so) her PCP and the ophthalmologist.
Best of luck.
Randall V. Wong, M.D.
Retina Specialist Fairfax, Virginia
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Lucentis Injections
by Ronnie
(NJ)
My Mother's wet macular degeneration in her left eye dried up completely after her second Lucentis injection, however, her retina doctor keeps giving her injections.
She's had 5 so far. Why is it necessary to give an injection if the eye is dry?
The doctor said it will eventually start to leak again, so does injecting her ensure that her eye will remain dry?
Or is it really not necessary? The injections are very expensive.
REPLY
Hi Ronnie,
Most retina specialists will continue to treat after an initial "induction" period. During this period, the "wet" form may dry up (and usually it does), but continued treatment is preferred to prevent recurrence of the wet form. It is highly likely to recur.
My own preference is to give a series of 3 shots, then reassess, but many times I continue the shots...especially if the vision is good.
Randall V. Wong, M.D.
Dr. Wong is a Retina Specialist in Fairfax Virginia
Retina Specialist
Fairfax Virginia
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Vision Problems After Lucentis Injection
by Terence
(UK)
I have recently been diagnosed with wet macular degeneration even though I have had no vision problems when looking at the amsler grid.
After my first lucentis injection I am now seeing distortion on the amsler grid. Is this normal?
REPLY
Dear Terence,
This is a tough question. From a doctor's perspective, I have had patients that never realized there was a problem until after a procedure, such as an injection, was given.
Another possibility is that the injection is not controlling the wet MD as anticipated.
It would be very unusual for the injection itself to cause problems. I'd also like to know when the injection was given and whether or not you are scheduled for subsequent shots?
Also, make sure your doctor knows about your symptoms.
All the best!
Randall V. Wong, M.D.
Dr. Wong is a Retina Specialist in Fairfax Virginia
Retina Specialist
Fairfax Virginia
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Pain with Lucentis Injections
by Jill
(United States)
Hi Leslie,
I have wet myopic macular degeneration in one eye (so far). Starting July 2009 I've had four intraocular injections of Lucentis which has successfully dried up the messy veins and restored some of my vision.
Unfortunately each needle has caused considerable pain. The first needle caused a sharp pain above my eye. The second needle caused greater pain above the eye and around the temple region.
The third needle was excruciating and my retinal specialist thinks the needle keeps hitting a nerve bundle. The fourth needle was almost as bad but I'd taken ibuprofen ahead of the injection.
However, I now have constant aching in the left side of my face and jabbing pains into my eyebrow, temple and the top of my head on the left.
Has anyone else in your group experienced this? I've done quite a bit of reading and can find very little about myopic macular degeneration in general and nerve pain following an injection in particular. My family doctor is arranging for me to see a neurologist for help.
Thanks for listening.
Answer:
Jill,
This sounds very unusual. In my experience, almost all injections are just about painless...and this is coming from a doctor!
More seriously, I have found that in some on whom I operate several times, the numbing medicine (usually lidocaine) becomes less effective at the second or third operation. This is not exactly the same scenario, but I do wonder; 1) what numbing medicine is used and 2) perhaps you could ask your doc to use a different type of anesthetic.
I am not sure this is going to be the answer, but it is where I'd start.
Good luck and let us know how you do.
Randall V. Wong, M.D.
Dr. Wong is a Retina Specialist in Fairfax Virginia
Retina Specialist
Fairfax Virginia
To learn more about Lucentis go to:
Lucentis
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Lucentis Benefits
by Richard
(Charlotte, nc)
My father has wet macular degeneration in one eye with Lucentis not helping.
He now has it in the other eye. Should he try Lucentis in this eye?
In other words, are eyes different enough that it could benefit him or is it more related to body chemistry/parameters?
REPLY
Hi Richard,
It may not be that the eyes do or do not respond to the Lucentis. The real question is when did the first eye get treated? Perhaps too much time elapsed before the first eye was diagnosed and treated...not the same situation for the second eye, right?
I'd go with the Lucentis or whatever anti-VEGF drug your father's doctor recommends.
All the Best,
Randall V. Wong, M.D.
Retina Specialist Fairfax, Virginia
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