What Is Wet Macular Degeneration?
Wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels form under the retina and leak fluid or blood into the macula, the area responsible for sharp central vision. This leakage distorts vision and can cause significant damage if not managed quickly. Anti-VEGF injections are the gold standard treatment for controlling this process.
What Does Anti-VEGF Mean?
VEGF stands for vascular endothelial growth factor, a protein that encourages new blood vessels to grow. In wet AMD, the eye produces too much VEGF, leading to the formation of leaky, fragile vessels. Anti-VEGF medications block this protein, stopping growth and leakage.
Common FDA-approved anti-VEGF drugs include:
- Eylea® (aflibercept)
- Lucentis® (ranibizumab)
- Avastin® (bevacizumab)
These medications are injected directly into the eye to reduce swelling, stop leakage, and protect the retina.
What to Expect During Treatment
Anti-VEGF injections are performed in the office under sterile conditions. Your eye will be numbed with anesthetic drops to minimize discomfort. The injection itself takes only seconds.
In most cases, injections are given monthly during the initial treatment period, then the timeline is adjusted based on how your eye responds. Many patients continue injections every 4–12 weeks to maintain stability.
Will You See Results?
While results vary, many patients experience improvement or stabilization of their vision with regular anti-VEGF therapy. The key is consistency: missing treatments may allow the disease to progress.
Your doctor will monitor changes closely through follow-up imaging, such as OCT scans, to guide your personalized treatment plan.
Trust Your Vision to Experienced Retina Specialists
Anti-VEGF injections are a powerful tool for protecting your vision from wet AMD. At North Suburban Eye, our experienced retina specialists use advanced imaging and proven treatments to help you preserve as much central vision as possible. If you’ve been diagnosed with macular degeneration or are experiencing visual changes, contact us at 781-245-5200 to schedule your consultation in Wakefield or Winchester, MA.
