Health & Care Information
Avastin vs Lucentis, Eylea cost, side effects and duration of eye injections used in the treatment of age related macular degeneration (AMD).
Age Related Macular Degeneration, often called AMD or ARMD, is the leading cause behind blindness or vision loss, at age 65 and older. AMD is the medical condition that most commonly affects in old age. It causes loss of vision due to degeneration of retina.
AMD Risk factors includes aging process, smoking, exposure to sunlight hyperopia, hypertension and diabetes. Ophthalmology fact sheets show that some 11 million people in United States are suffering from AMD symptoms. There are the following two types of Macular degeneration(AMD):
AMD Causes involves deposition of basal laminar deposits (BLD) of debris at the level of Bruch’s membrane. The debris is thought to originate from incomplete metabolism of Degenerating Retinal Pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. The accumulation of metabolic by products from retinal epithelial cells dysfunction defines the clinical manifestation of age related macular degeneration.
Dry Macular degeneration (AMD)
Dry macular degeneration is divided into three stages early, intermediate and advanced stage. Wet type of AMD is thought to be to be a progressive form of the disease. Early sign of dry AMD in initial stage is the formation of drusen. These are yellowish deposits between the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and its blood supply in the choroid beneath it. The word drusen is taken from German word for “geode,” because of the way they reflect light when the eye doctor looks into the eye. Small but hard drusen are common in people over 40 years old and usually do not damage the retina and have no effect on vision. But when these deposits become larger in size, more abundant in appearance they more likely to progress to dry AMD.
Wet Macular degeneration (AMD)
Deficiency of oxygen and nutrients to the retina triggers New blood vessels formation in the choroid. This phenomenon is called Choroidal Neouascularization. These vessels tend to grow through a membrane, called Bruch’s membrane, which is located toward the retina at the back of the eye. This process causes the leakage of blood and protein below and into the macula. It results in the development of retinal scars. These retinal secars are also known as disciform scars. Ultimate result of this process is Central blindness.
Research study conducted by National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), under National Institute of Health (NIH) suggests:
Avastin and Lucentis are as effective as Eylea for mild vision loss. But Eylea is better than Lucentis and Avastin for diabetic macular edema with moderate or worse vision loss. All three drugs reduced swelling of the macula, but Eylea and Lucentis reduced the swelling more than Avastin. Additionally, anti-VEGF treatment with Eylea was found more effective compared to Avastin and Lucentis to avoid laser treatment for persistent edema.
Avastin vs Lucentis vs Eylea Cost, Side effects, Benefits
Macular degeneration (AMD) treatment involves eye drops and injection. Lucentis, Lucentis and Eylea are the three top medicines used in the macular degeneration injections and eye drops.
Three similar drugs for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are most debated issues in eye care. From ophthalmologists point of view the differences between the three drugs are considered clinically insignificant, when compared. But there are some similarities and differences in them, which patient should know. Let’s look at all three macular degeneration treatment injections with their cost, side effects and treatment duration in the following:
Avastin Cost, Side Effects, Treatment Duration
Bevacizumab is active ingredients present in Avastin injections. It was approved by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2004. It is included in World Health Organization (WHO) essential drug list. Avastin is an angiogenesis inhibitor a drug that reduces the growth blood vessels. Basically bevacizumab inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) thereby it blocks the process of angiogenesis. Below are the Avastin cost, side effects, treatment duration:
Avastin Cost and Treatment Duration
For age related macular degeneration (AMD) the dosage will directed as intravitreal injection of 1.25mg (0.05ml) for consequtive 3 months (once in a month). Dose frequency may vary depending upon the anthropological assessment. Avastin injection cost for the single dose is about $150. Which means a complete Avastin treatment cost will amount to $1500 (for 10 doses).
Avastin Side Effects
Major side effects are of Avastin injection is hypertension and heightened risk of bleeding and bowel perforation. Bleeding tendency is the most commonly reported side effect of Avastin injections.
Lucentis, Side Effects, Treatment Duration
Lucentis is manufacture by Genentech with Ranibizumab as its active ingredient. Lucentis is monoclonal antibody fragment created from same source as bevacizumab. It inhibits Vascular endothelial growth factor A, which is similar to bevacizumab. U.S Food and Drug Administration approved Lucentis for the treatment of wet macular degeneration. Below are the Lucentis cost, side effects, treatment duration:
Lucentis Cost and Treatment Duration
For age related macular degeneration (AMD) the dosage will directed as one injection in every month for consecutive 3 months and then dosage frequency may be reduce depending upon opthalmalogical assessment. One dose of Lucentis is about $2000. For a complete therapy the amount will be $20,000 (for 10 doses).
Lucentis Side Effects
Major side effects observed in clinical trials were vitreous floaters, increased intraocular pressure, conjunctival hemorrhage, eye pain and intraocular inflammation. Below are the Lucentis cost, side effects, treatment duration:
Eylea, Side Effects, Treatment Duration
Aflibercept is active ingredient of Eylea injection. It is bio-pharmaceutical drug invented by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals approved in the United States and Europe for the treatment of wet macular degeneration. Main mechanism of action of Eylea injection is that it It inhibits the activity of the vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and its subtypes, more specifically VEGF-A and VEGF-B. It also inhibits the placental growth factor (PGF) thereby inhibiting the growth of new blood vessels in the choriocapillaris.
Eylea Cost and Treatment Duration
For age related macular degeneration (AMD) the dosage will be directed as intravitreal injection of 2mg (0.05ml) monthly for first 3 months and then 2mg (0.05ml) in every two months. One dose of Eylea injection is about $1,850. For a complete therapy the amount will be $18,500 (for 10 doses).
Eylea Side Effects
Most Common adverse effects of Eylea injection are eye conjunctival bleeding, deep pain in eye, cataract, vitreous detachment, floaters, and ocular hypertension.
Multiple studies have compared these anti-VEGF drugs and found comparable effectiveness in helping patients retain their ability to see, so the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that ophthalmologists counsel patients about the availability of all three treatments.
