All You Need to Know About - Avastin Treatment for Eye Disease

Among the most notable cause of loss of vision in the United States, AMD- also referred as Age-related Macular Degeneration is one of the major sources of visual deficiency affecting more than 2 million Americans on regular basis. Typically, the onset of AMD leads to the growth of abnormal blood vessel in advanced stages, resulting in the leakage of blood into the macula (a central portion of the retina that enables us to look straight ahead and to see fine visual details) and obscurity in vision. Collection of blood in macula may damage the retinal veins, lead to loss of central vision and causes a serious impediment to the autonomy and mobility of individuals. In fact, if AMD is left untreated, most patients may end up unfit to perform daily tasks, including driving, reading, or any other assignment requiring deftness. Avastin is a medically renowned procedure in the treatment of AMD and other related diseases.

Since its introduction in 2004, Avastin ('bevacizumab'- a drug produced by Genentech) has gathered profound consideration. In treating eye-related disorders, it has turned out to be widely utilized in the administration of proliferative retinal disorders, including wet age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), proliferative diabetic retinopathy and even retinal vein occlusions. The medication was initially created as an intravenous treatment for other forms of cancer. However, its remarkable promise in the effective treatment of proliferative ocular disorders provoked wide speculation and off-label utilization of Avastin for ophthalmic purposes.

What is Avastin and How does it work?
In medical terms, Avastin is a chemotherapeutic drug which is used to counter cancer by shrinking blood supply to the affected cells/tissues feeding the tumour. Technically, this is done by working as an antibody against VEGF (also called Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, a protein that stimulates the formation of blood vessels).

If the Avastin treatment is applied to eye diseases, it is possible to treat wet macular degeneration by limiting the supply of new blood vessels to the affected area. As we would see, the injected Avastin has to be able to adapt to the retinal tissues, which unlike normal tissues, are more delicate and prone to damage.

Benefits-
As compared to its medical counterparts, an Avastin injection may cost you approximately $50 per injection, whereas Lucentis and Eylea (alternatives) are as costly as $ 2000 and $ 1850 respectively. Due to its cost-effectiveness, Avastin is also widely regarded as an off-label medical treatment in age-related macular degeneration, mainly because the perceived benefits of using Avastin is similar to Lucentis or Eylea.

Apart from offering equally effective treatment at substantially lower costs, the treatment is also safer and effective. The National Institute of Health (NIH) has consistently vouched for the efficacy of Avastin in treating macular degeneration. Your doctor may frequently prescribe Avastin for ARMD, but it is also necessary to note that as compared to its costlier alternative Lucentis, the drug is not FDA approved and is used by clinicians on an as-needed basis.

Applications of Avastin in treating eye diseases-
Avastin is medically prescribed and first-line treatment for many eye-related diseases. Though there are many reports of successful usage of Avastin in various eye treatments, some of the most common applications (apart from Age-related Macular Degeneration) include-

1. Glaucoma- The first known application of Avastin was in the treatment of neovascular glaucoma. Notably, the use of Avastin has led to dramatic short-term improvements in patients suffering from this disease with consequent regression of iris and anterior vessels of the eye. Though neovascular glaucoma is known to be a severe recalcitrant disease often inevitably leading to vision loss, the use of Avastin has shown immense promise as compared to conventional therapeutic options.

2. Conjunctivitis- Another possible use of Avastin is in treatment of visual loss caused as a result of conjunctivitis on the corneal surface. Researchers have found substantial impact of Avastin in patients with eye-related diseases including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, post-infectious keratitis and other similar disorders.

3. Retinal Edema- Conditions like diabetic retinopathy and other ocular conditions may result in closure of the retinal capillary and consequently lead to hypoxia (deprivation of oxygen supply to the eyes). Being a VEGF inhibitor, Avastin reduces the vascular permeability and helps in treatment of retinal edema.

Risks and Complications in using Avastin
Though there is no evidence based proof for off-label use of Avastin in intraocular injections, risks and complications may arise in the course of its prescription. Generally, a treatment of this drug could lead to adverse events including development or worsening of the medical condition, retinal detachment, glaucoma, cataract or bleeding. It is also essential to note that in certain cases, Avastin may not lead to prevention of loss of vision or restore the vision already lost. However, this is mostly patient specific and it is best to consult a doctor before usage. Further, an excessive dose of Avastin may also lead to life-threatening complications including loss of eyesight. Even though this may be the case, a supervised usage of Avastin is risk-free and is found to have low complications. If symptoms such as itchiness, rashes or allergies are caused, consulting a doctor is recommended.

Treatment-
The procedure to administer Avastin is remarkably easy and quick. The doctor may usually numb the eye with an anesthesia after dilating the pupil, before injecting Avastin in the back chamber of the eye. The medication is required to be injected at regular intervals which normally range from four to six weeks. However, the prescription and dosage differ, based on severity of the problem and is prescribed by the doctor considering several other factors.

Thus, treatment through Avastin is recommended for those suffering from ARMD and other related eye problems. For more details, consult http://www.calieye.com/ now.