[battlegearboat]

I see Dark Skies.

[rellimpank]

-bflr-

[GlennLivett]

bump

[mtbopfuyn]

Lucentis, which is covered by Medicare, costs about $2,000 for one eye injection each month; Avastin costs $17 to $50 a month for one injection.

Someone is making a boat load of money off patients and taxpayers.

[Enterprise]

Bump

[Ladysmith]

Bookmarking

[true_blue_texican]

bump for later

[BenLurkin]

Thank you for posting this.

[billhilly]

Good post. Thanks. I lost my right eye to retinal detachments a couple of years ago, so it is good to know that I may not lose the other one.

[mkjessup]

Thanks for the post DS! This is a good article to save for future reference! :)

[EyeGuy]

"About 95 percent of patients regain their sight after treatment, and in some, vision gradually gets better than it was before the onset of the disease."


Sigh....another hopelessly sensationalistic headline.

A promising drug, BUT it must be understood that the "95 percent of patients who regain their sight" are from a very narrow group, selected for their chance to succeed. Throwing this drug at every patient with exudative maculopathy (wet AMD), would result in a much lower success rate.

Like any treatment, this drug's success hinges largely on the stage of the disease, the exact mechanism of tissue destruction and accompanying conditions.

[NordP]

Now...they need to work on a cure for the ever popular "Old Eyes Syndrome" which is a sister to MD. ;-)

Signed, a frustrated with not being able to read fine print, over 50 person

[jdm]

This is just as good at restoring eyesight, and no prescription required. :O)

[annie laurie]

Ping

[fso301]

My uncle has this and as a big reader, his quality of life has been seriously degraded.

[Blue_Spark]

My Mom started treatments earlier this spring. First shot did not seem to do much. Since the second shot (in the eye) her vision has been getting better. I note that she is not needing the special fluorescent light to read now. So far, so good.

[Kirkwood]

"About 95 percent of patients regain their sight after treatment, and in some, vision gradually gets better than it was before the onset of the disease."

This statement is incorrect if you go to www.fda.gov and read the original announcement. It should read that 95 percent MAINTAIN their current level of vision and about one third IMPROVE their current level of vision. Even so, this is a significant achievement and if the disease is caught early enough and treatment started, functional vision can be maintained.

[grey_whiskers]

Some research is being done in animals using embryonic stem cells in the hope of being able to grow replacement tissue that will restore sight, but experts said clinical trials in humans are likely years away.

Typical know-nothing vermin. Try adult stem cells.

No cheers, unfortunately.

[FreeKeys]

While I have no doubt these drug therapies work for many people, I'm dismayed that so few doctors demand their patients with failing eyesight ALSO take vitamins A, C, E, amino-acid-chelated zinc, beta carotene and lutein. Some should also benefit from the herbs eyebright, bilberry, gotu kola, pycnogenol and possibly, grape seed extract.

D'oh! Almost forgot: American MDs have taken no more than 5 hours of nutrition classes in med school, if any at all, while they're subjected to dozens and dozens of presentations by pharma reps every year. I musta forgot to take my memory pills...

[NavyCanDo]

I got some bad news from my Optometrist at my annual eye exam last week. He has spotted the early stages of Macular Degeneration in my right eye. Up until the visit I had no clue what the disease was.

So far taking using the eye exam for it, I have symptoms. Can anyone tell me how fast it progresses? I am 48, and dang I don’t want to lose vision this early, even if it is only one eye.

He did suggest adding dark leafy vegetables to my diet ,like spinach.