AVASTIN®, for intravitreal injection, is used for the treatment of exudative, or "wet," macular degeneration. It is also a vascular endothelial growth factor (so called VEGF) inhibitor. It works by binding to the protein VEGF and blocking its ability to create and maintain neovascularization in the eye.

AVASTIN®, in combination with intravenous 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy, is indicated for first- or second-line treatment of patients with metastatic carcinoma of the colon or rectum. AVASTIN®, in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel, is indicated for first line treatment of patients with unresectable, locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic non-squamous, non-small cell lung cancer.

Although not FDA approved for the treatment of macular degeneration, Avastin is frequently used for the treatment of choroidal neovascularization and may be used in combination with Lucentis (also manufactured by Genetech). Avastin may be effective in delaying the recurrence rate of choroidal neovasculirization these patients. It is administered as frequently as once a month.

Pre-operatively and post-operatively patients are given topical antibiotic drops. The eye may also be sterilized with an iodine based solution prior to the injection. Risks, as with all intravitreal/intraocular injections, include blindness from intraocular infection (endophthalmitis), bleeding, retinal detachment or cataract.

The informed consent for INTRAVITREAL INJECTION OF AVASTIN that we use is provided for your review. You may consider reading the consent before arriving at the office for your treatment.

Written by Randall V. Wong, M.D., Retinal Specialist/Ophthalmologist, Fairfax, Virginia.

Randall V. Wong, M.D.

Source: www.TotalRetina.com

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