| OU Research Supports Cost-Saving Vision Treatment |
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Findings point to way to save vision and money June 21, 2011 – A study involving University of Oklahoma researchers and patients at the Dean McGee Eye Institute points to a more cost-effective treatment for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of vision loss in people over the age of 60. In fact, it could save thousands of dollars per patient. It is welcome news for patients like Harvey Jenkins, 90, of Oklahoma City. He’s one of more than 250,000 patients treated for neovascular AMD (the wet form of the disease) each year in the United States. Jenkins opted to enroll in the study at Dean McGee after watching both a brother and a nephew lose their vision to AMD. “It scared me a little when I knew what they went through,” he said, adding that the study gave him hope that he might avoid the same vision loss they experienced. Age-related macular degeneration destroys sharp, central vision. That is the vision needed to see objects clearly and for common daily tasks like reading or driving, said Dr. Reagan Bradford, Jr., an ophthalmologist with the Dean McGee Eye Institute and professor of ophthalmology in the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. He explained there are actually two forms of AMD – wet and dry. The dry form of AMD is more common and generally progresses more slowly than the wet form. Wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels behind the retina start to grow under the macula. These new blood vessels tend to be very fragile and often leak blood and fluid, raising the macula from its normal place at the back of the eye. Researchers at Dean McGee Eye Institute and 43 other sites compared two drugs injected into the eyes of patients with the wet form of AMD. Previous clinical trials had shown ranibizumab (Lucentis) is effective in the treatment of the wet form of AMD and it is FDA-approved for this purpose. Bevacizumab (Avastin), on the other hand, has been used off–label for the treatment of wet AMD, but without the same clinical evidence of effectiveness. The new study changes that. “The clinical trial showed the drugs worked equally well in maintaining vision,” said Bradford, who led the study at Dean McGee. The economic impact of the findings is significant. Although Medicare covers both drugs, the cost for Avastin is much lower, at about $59 per injection, compared to Lucentis at $2,028. Jenkins doesn’t know which drug he got as a trial participant. But he said he experienced an improvement in the vision of his left eye after four injections. “It was just real simple,” said the Oklahoma City man. “They numbed my eye and I didn’t hardly feel it,” Jenkins said. “I’m so glad I did this. It’s made a world of difference in my life.” Jenkins can now read again, drive his car and has even taken up painting. Although Bradford said the study shows the less expensive drug is as effective as the more expensive one, more long-term research is needed. “We are still determining whether the two drugs remain equal over time,” he explained. The clinical trial was funded by the National Eye Institute, a part of the National Institutes of Health. Both drugs are made by Genentech. ### For more information on current clinical trials at Dean McGee Eye Institute, visit www.dmei.org A National Eye Institute press release about the drug trial can be found at: http://www.nei.nih.gov/news/pressreleases/042811.asp Media Contact: Susan Simpson In Attendance: Reagan Bradford Jr., M.D. Harvey Jenkins |
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Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease associated with aging that gradually destroys sharp, central vision. Central vision is needed for seeing objects clearly and for common daily tasks such as reading and driving. It is a leading cause of vision loss in Americans 60 years of age and older.
AMD affects the macula, the part of the eye that allows you to see fine detail. AMD causes no pain. In some cases, AMD advances so slowly that people notice little change in their vision. In others, the disease progresses faster and may lead to a loss of vision in both eyes.
There are two forms of AMD – wet and dry.
Wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels behind the retina start to grow under the macula. These new blood vessels tend to be very fragile and often leak blood and fluid. The blood and fluid raise the macula from its normal place at the back of the eye. Damage to the macula occurs rapidly.
An early symptom of wet AMD is that straight lines appear wavy. If you notice this condition or other changes to your vision, contact your eye care professional at once. You need a comprehensive dilated eye exam.
Wet AMD can be treated with drugs that are injected into the eye. This treatment can slow down vision loss and in some cases, improve vision.
Dry AMD occurs when the light-sensitive cells in the macula slowly break down, gradually blurring central vision in the affected eye. It is much more common than wet AMD, but can turn into wet AMD. There is no drug treatment for dry AMD.
The greatest risk factor is age. Although AMD may occur during middle age, studies show that people over age 60 are clearly at greater risk than other age groups. Other risk factors include smoking, obesity and family history.
Source: National Eye Institute
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