More Than 3 Years of Lucentis Injections

by Bill Roudebush
(The Villages, Florida)

Dry macular degeneration was detected in March 2007 in my right eye only. While the right eye was still dry, wet macular degeneration was detected in my left eye in February 2008.

My first Lucentis injection was in March 2008 for wet AMD in my left eye. Wet AMD was then detected in my right eye in July 2008. The vision in my left eye was 20/60 and my right eye was 20/200.

After a year or so of monthly injections we went to every other month and then every 3 months. The period before my last injection (both eyes) was 4 months.

As of October 2011 I have received 22 injections in my left eye and 15 in my right. The vision is stable at 20/80 in my left eye and 20/200 in my right eye. No further bleeding has occurred for more than a year.

My doctor suggests that I should decide whether to continue getting shots regularly, with their attendant risks, or wait and see what develops.

There is evidently insufficient data on patients taking Lucentis over this long a time period to allow him to recommend one option over the other. It is very difficult for me to make such an important decision based on nothing better than a coin flip.

My present level of vision is adequate, using visual aids for macular degeneration, for such activities as reading and computer work. I would hate to jeopardize it. There are risks both ways.

If any readers have experience with pausing Lucentis injections after a period of vision stability I would appreciate hearing from you.

billroudebush@gmail.com