Low Vision

There is a drug, not yet widely used by Eye Doctors, called AVASTIN. This is actually a chemotherapy drug that can also be injected into the eye for off-label use treating eye disease. People with macular degeneration or people that have macular edema (swelling) have had success with this. I went in to Boise Retinal clinic on a Wednesday and received an injection. My vision at that time was 20/80. Two days later on Friday, my eyes were 20/25. I was ecstatic over the results. I received shots every six weeks for about a year. Unfortunately, I had a problem with my eye just giving up. But, this drug has helped other people see better. I wanted to let you know about this, as it can be used on an off-label basis for some eye diseases, and Opthalmologists can have access to it.

After I reported on this drug called Avastin, I found that it has been taken of the market due to medical side effects of this drug. I am experiencing these side effects. Actually, I discovered alot of medical problems I had shortly after the injections into my eyes. I experienced migraine headaches, sinus problems and scarring of the sinuses , along with additional hemorrhaging in my eyes. One of the things I discovered in reading on the Internet is that my chances of a brain aneurysm is increased by 20 to 30% .. So do yourself a favor before any Dr. wants to inject your eyes and do some research on what it is that he wants to put in your eyes whether it be Avastin or another steroid some kind .. You can Google “side effects of Avastin”. I see on the Internet, that there are some class-action suits against the maker of Avastin. Although the drug seems to work for people with macular degeneration, my disease was branch vein retinal occlusions which as I stated in the column that eventually became blind .so do your research and get a second opinion as a lot of doctors in Sweden, France and at other European countries recommend that when you have hemorrhaging in your eyes that you not receive injections. They say eventually the bleeding will be absorbed and you would be a lot better off and even possibly regain your eyesight back to normal.