Monthly shot of Lucentis combats low vision disorders

In a major breakthrough, researchers have come out with a new drug that not only prevents vision loss linked to age-related macular degeneration (AMD), but also improves sight.

The drug, Lucentis (ranibizumab) got its approval from the Food and Drug Administration for use in the U.S. against AMD in June this year.

The drug maker Genentec, who markets Lucentis claims that monthly injections of the drug can improve sight in people who are afflicted with a particular form of retina degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease associated with aging that gradually destroys sharp, central vision. AMD affects the macula, the part of the eye that allows you to see fine details and it occurs in two forms: wet and dry.

Lucentis is particularly helpful for patients who are ailing from ‘wet’ form of macular degeneration. Wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels behind the retina start to grow under the macula (central retina).

Rosenfeld, a professor of ophthalmology at the university's Bascom Palmer Eye Institute said, "This prevents the irreversible damage that occurs from the abnormal growth of blood vessels in the eye. If you catch it early, you can get spectacular vision improvement but if it's been there a year or longer, you won't get this significant improvement. If it's a couple of years and it turns into a scar, there's nothing you can do. You have a window of opportunity to get the treatment in."

716 patients took part in the study and were given eye chart tests before and after receiving the drug, or a placebo.

The results showed that after two years patients administered 0.3mg of Lucentis were able to read on average 5.4 more letters on the sight eye chart. However, patients taking 0.5mg were able to read 6.6 more letters.

On the other hand, patients given a placebo drug were able to read 14.9 fewer letters.

Research conducted at the University Of Miami Miller School Of Medicine concluded that the drug slowed down the vision loss process in around 90 percent of the patients, while improved vision in 30 percent cases.