Language
Country/Area
No result found
Why is dry age-related macular degeneration a new treatment challenge? How can anti-VEGF drugs change the future of vision care?
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common eye disease that affects the vision of the elderly, especially its dry form, which has gradually become a serious challenge for ophthalmologists. As the world's elderly population increases, so do the cases of this type of vision loss, affecting the quality of life of an increasing number of patients.
According to reports, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapies have shown significant efficacy in the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration, but these therapies may not be applicable to the dry form. While the effectiveness of treating wet AMD has been supported by numerous clinical trials, there are still concerns about effective treatments for the dry form.
Anti-VEGF drugs, such as Ranibizumab and Bevacizumab, have shown significant efficacy in wet age-related macular degeneration after multiple clinical tests. These drugs reduce retinal damage by blocking the action of vascular endothelial growth factor, but there are no clear results on their efficacy in dry AMD.
Currently, there is still a lack of effective treatments for dry age-related macular degeneration. Many researchers are focusing on potential treatments, trying to find ways to effectively slow the progression of the disease. Some studies have pointed out that the failure of anti-VEGF drugs to show significant improvement in vision in early studies of dry AMD, coupled with the high cost of treatment, has questioned its applicability.
A research report on dry AMD pointed out that the effectiveness of anti-VEGF drugs is lower than that of wet AMD, but there is no sufficient clinical data to support the efficacy of dry AMD.
In exploring research directions, scientists are considering how anti-VEGF antibodies may affect the progression of dry AMD. Although there are papers indicating that these drugs may be effective in certain conditions, the medical community as a whole is still looking for alternatives. After all, nearly all effective vision care strategies rely on early diagnosis and an ongoing treatment plan.
In addition to anti-VEGF therapy, other therapies are also in progress, including emerging concepts such as stem cell therapy and gene therapy. Although these technologies are still in the research stage, it is hoped that they will provide treatment options other than anti-VEGF and further address the challenges of age-related macular degeneration.
FDA-approved drugs like Lucentis cost about $2,000 per shot, leading many patients to consider the far cheaper and abused drug bevacizumab, even though its safety is unclear.
Among various treatment options, how to ensure that patients receive necessary care while reducing the financial burden has become an important issue in future vision care. With the advancement of technology and medicine, emphasis on understanding individual patient needs and designing corresponding treatment plans is undoubtedly the key to combating age-related macular degeneration.
Future research will continue to focus on how to improve current therapies and ensure their suitability for dry AMD, including the use of diverse and personalized treatments with anti-VEGF therapies. In addition, medical insurance and public health policies should be adjusted to protect patients’ rights and medical accessibility during the diagnosis and treatment process.
The future of vision care will continue to evolve in the face of treatment challenges, whether it is the selection of effective medications or changes in medical models. When anti-VEGF therapy may become an option, how to objectively evaluate its role and value in different types of AMD is still an urgent issue to be solved.
