Retinopathy treatment - the future

[AlisonM]

At the DUK meeting I went to last night we had a talk on Retinopathy and the development of new treatments. The latest thing is called anti-VEGF. VEGF is a protein which can cause vascular disease in the eye and anti-VEGF is another protein which can switch off the 'bad' protein alleviating the loss of visual acuity. We were told the treatment is currently being trialled for patients with advanced diabetic retinopathy in conjunction with laser surgery, but that there is evidence emerging that it could be beneficial if used at an even earlier stage before laser surgery would normaily be considered. Anti-VEGF has been used, with great success, to treat macular degeneration for some time and has been found to create noticeable improvements in vision for many patients.

An exciting possibility but with a downside, it's a monthly injection direct into the eyeball. *Runs away screaming hysterically*.

 

[Northerner]

Sounded really promising until I read the last line 😱

 

[AlisonM]

The speaker, a local eye surgeon with a family history of T2, told us that the anti-VEGFs were originally developed as a treatment for cancer where starving the tumour's bloodflow (tumours often include a proliferation of blood vessels) was one way of killing the growth. The anti-VEGF has to be specifically targeted in order to work effectively. He did say research is under way to find less invasive delivery methods.

 

[SimplesL]

Hi

A friends hubby had monthly injections for his macular degeneration but for the last few months hasn't needed them as his eye has improved & stabilised.
He coped very well and said sounds worse than it is!

Mind you if I had to "watch" an injection coming my way I'd blink at the wrong moment or they'd have to strap me down & force my eye open! Just the thought of it!!

Must go to gym on way home to help reduce risk of this.

Take care
Lynne

 

[Steff]

Yikes 😱 I can just about sit and take eye drops when i neeed to but this would have me running for the hill, good to see your letting us know these kinds of things Alison

 

[trophywench]

I know someone who has had both - ie Laser treatment and jabs in the eye. She said TBH the thought of the jab was far far worse than the actuality, and instead of being sort of bombarded for some time as in her lasers, it was lovely realising it was just sharp intake of breath, done.

Think they give you LA drops for it as well but not positive.

 

[m1dnc]

It's a bit ironic to think that we are squeamish about a monthly eye injection when we think nothing about self-administering four injections a day on MDI or inserting a cannula for the pumpers.

I expect there are many of us who have had laser eye surgery to correct poor vision who can attest to the fact that you wouldn't see the needle coming when it is so close, and you can't really feel anything on your eyeball anyway.

 

[Steff]

It's a bit ironic to think that we are squeamish about a monthly eye injection when we think nothing about self-administering four injections a day on MDI or inserting a cannula for the pumpers

or type 2s who have to inject as well 🙄

 

[redrevis]

It took me long enough to get used to putting a 4mm needle into my skin, let alone a needle in the eye 😱 I have a weird eye thing anyway never liked things going near my eyes, probably stemming from an accident when I was young where I was nearly blinded in 1 eye. Hopefully this treatment will turn into eye drops in the future 🙂

And talking of Retinopathy. I have my screening appointment this afternoon. Still hoping this background has finally healed itself. Can't have my control any tighter really. FIX DAMN YOU FIX!!!

 

[AJLang]

They tried to put a cannula in my eye for the anaesthetic for my first eye operation. It hurt so much that I screamed louder than I have ever scramed in my life so I had a general anaesthetic. But my eyes are very complicated so may have a tendency to feel pain more

 

[AJLang]

And talking of Retinopathy. I have my screening appointment this afternoon. Still hoping this background has finally healed itself. Can't have my control any tighter really. FIX DAMN YOU FIX!!![/QUOTE]
I hope that your appointment goes well and has a positive outcome