Eye Health A-Z
`
`Anti-VEGF Treatments
`
`Anti-VEGF Treatments
`
`What Is Avastin?
`
`What Is Lucentis?
`
`What Is Eylea?
`
`Anti-VEGF Treatments
`
`Leer en Español: Tratamientos Anti-VEGF
`
`By David Turbert
`Reviewed By G Atma Vemulakonda, MD
`Mar. 02, 2019
`Your ophthalmologist may treat your wet AMD or other disease of the retina with a drug called anti-
`VEGF. Anti-VEGF treatment improves vision in about one third (1 out of 3) people who take it. For a
`vast majority (9 out of 10), it at least stabilizes vision.
`
`What is Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor?
`Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a protein produced by cells in your body. VEGF
`produces new blood vessels when your body needs them.
`
`Why Do You Want to Stop VEGF From Working?
`Sometimes cells can produce too much VEGF. When this happens, abnormal blood vessels can grow
`in your eye. These abnormal blood vessels damage your eye and harm your vision. This can lead
`to low vision or blindness.
`
`What Conditions Are Treated with Anti-VEGF Medicine?
`Anti-VEGF medicine blocks VEGF, slowing the growth of blood vessels in the eye. This slows or
`stops damage from the abnormal blood vessels and slows down vision loss. Sometimes it can even
`improve vision.
`
`Ophthalmologists use anti-VEGF medicines to treat the following eye problems:
`
`Wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
`Swelling of the retina, called macular edema
`Diabetic retinopathy
`Retinal vein occlusion
`
`What are the Differences Between the Kinds of Anti-VEGF
`Treatments?
` There are three main anti-VEGF medicines:
`
`Avastin
`Lucentis
`Eylea
`
`Ophthalmologists generally consider all three to be safe and effective treatments for retinal
`disease. One study that compared the effectiveness of Lucentis and Avastin found them both
`effective for treating Wet AMD. The differences among Avastin, Lucentis and Eylea have to do with
`cost, packaging, and possibly with some packaging-associated risk. A number of new anti-VEGF
`drugs are nearing approval, and patients may have more treatment options in coming years.
`
`Regeneron Exhibit 1175.001
`Regeneron v. Novartis
`IPR2021-00816
`
`

`

`How Anti-VEGF Treatment Is Given
`This is what you can expect during the treatment:
`
`Your ophthalmologist will clean your eye to prevent infection.
`The eye is numbed to reduce pain.
`A small device may be placed on your eye to keep your eyelids out of the way.
`Your ophthalmologist injects the drug through the white part of your eye using a very thin
`needle.
`The injection only takes a few seconds. You usually do not see the needle itself.
`
`Your ophthalmologist will decide how many treatments you need. You may need other types of
`treatment along with anti-VEGF treatment.
`
`Related
`
`Next
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`
`What Is Juvenile Macular Dystrophy?
`MAR 25, 2022
`
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`MAR 25, 2022
`
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`MAR 23, 2022
`
`What drops can be used to treat bacterial infection in children under 2 years old?
`MAR 17, 2022
`
`What Is Marfan Syndrome?
`MAR 16, 2022
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`Regeneron Exhibit 1175.002
`Regeneron v. Novartis
`IPR2021-00816
`
`

`

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`ALSO OF INTEREST
`
`Avastin
`Lucentis
`Comparison of Anti-VEGF Treatments for Wet AMD
`
`Regeneron Exhibit 1175.003
`Regeneron v. Novartis
`IPR2021-00816
`
`