If you have a certain form of age- related macular degeneration (AMD), your ophthalmologist may treat it with a medicine called anti-VEGF.

Anti-VEGF is a treatment for people with wet AMD. This medicine is injected into the eye to slow vision loss and possibly improve vision.

Anti-VEGF Treatment for Wet AMD

Your ophthalmologist may treat your wet AMD with a drug inside the eye called anti-VEGF. This medicine treats leaky blood vessels in your retina, and makes the fluid diminish or go away completely. The medicine is administered by an injection into the eye. Most people need repeated injections to control the fluid. This treatment can slow down vision loss or even improve vision.

Anti-VEGF treatment improves vision in about one third of people (1 out of 3) who have it. For a vast majority (9 out of 10), it at least stabilizes vision.

Here is how anti-VEGF treatment is given:

• The eye is numbed to reduce pain. A small device may be placed on your eye to keep your eyelids out of the way.
• Using a very thin needle, your ophthalmologist injects the drug into the eye. The injection only takes a few seconds.

Your ophthalmologist will decide how many treatments you need. You may need other types of treatment along with anti-VEGF treatment.

The benefit of anti-VEGF treatment is that it slows vision loss—and possibly improves vision. But just like any other drug or surgery, there are risks with anti-VEGF treatment. There is a small risk (about 1 in several thousand) of getting an eye infection, possibly even causing permanent vision loss, from this treatment. There is also a risk of damage to parts of the eye from the injection. Your ophthalmologist can help you understand risks and benefits of anti-VEGF treatment.