Lucentis Macular Degeneration Treatment Available - Macular Degeneration Stabilized for 95% of patients
Hicksville and Hauppauge, NY (ContentDesk) July 8, 2006 -- James Maisel, MD, a Long Island retinal specialist, announced the availability of Lucentis, a breakthrough medication for all patients with the wet form of macular degeneration.
Lucentis has demonstrated in clinical trials to maintain vision in 95% of patients and to improve vision in about one third of patients.
Lucentis was approved by the FDA on June 30, 2006 and is now available to patients for treatment in Dr. Maisels Hicksville and Hauppauge offices.Macular degeneration is the leading cause of severe visual loss in patients over 65. The macula is the center portion of the retina and is used for straight-ahead vision.
It is the only part of the retina capable of providing the fine vision necessary for reading and detailed work.
The macula is subject to many conditions, and most of these cause symptoms of difficulty reading, distortion or blind spots.
Macular degeneration is an age-related condition occurring almost exclusively in seniors and there is a dry form and a wet form.
The more common dry form causes pigmentation of the macula, similar to aging spots on the skin, is slowly progressive and accounts for only about 15% of severe central visual loss.
It can be slowed with certain vitamins and diet.
The wet, or exudative form of macular degeneration is less common but accounts for about 85% of visual loss and is the leading cause of blindness in seniors.
This form results when abnormal blood vessels growing under the retina start leaking.
Without treatment, these leaking blood vessels almost always cause scarring with irreversible visual loss.
Treatment of the wet form of macular degeneration was previously limited to laser therapy that was only successful in stabilizing 10% of patients who had good vision and leaks just outside of the center of the vision.
In 2000, a more selective treatment called Visudyne photodynamic therapy (PDT) was approved by the FDA.
PDT treatments were applicable to about one third of patients with small leaks and have proved to be effective in stabilizing 70% of these cases and improving the vision in about 15% of patients.
Since then, the addition of a steroid medication has reduced the average number of treatment sessions from over 5 to 1-2 with better results.
In January 2005, a new type of pharmacological treatment called Macugen became available that was applicable for all types of wet macular degeneration.
It required painless injections into the eye every 4-6 weeks.
Although it rarely improved vision, it has been effective in maintaining vision in 70% of patients.
Based on Macugens effectiveness, other medications that inhibit abnormal blood vessel growth, or anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF inhibitors), have been pursued.
Off label usage of Avastin, a successful VEGF inhibitor approved for metastatic colon cancer, has been effective in treating wet macular degeneration and has even worked in cases that have failed laser, PDT and Macugen therapy.
Lucentis, approved by the FDA for all forms wet macular degeneration, is similar to Avastin in that it is actually a portion of the same molecule and Genentech produces both medications. Lucentis has the theoretical advantages of penetrating the retina better than Avastin and the small amount escaping from the eye after injection is metabolized much faster.
The two-year FDA supervised studies demonstrated that Lucentis is safe and effective in stabilizing vision in 95% of patients and improving vision in about one third.
Ongoing treatment with painless monthly injections is required.
The medication costs over $2000 per treatment and is anticipated to be covered by insurance as with any other FDA approved and indicated diagnostic testing and therapy. Patients that have already developed irreversible scarring will not be candidates for the Lucentis therapy.
Those that have already lost vision, or fail to improve with treatment still maintain all peripheral vision and can do all activities of daily living that do not require fine vision.
They can also benefit from low vision magnifying aids or non-visual aids such as talking books.
About Dr. MaiselDr. Maisel is a Board Certified Ophthalmologist with subspecialty training in vitreous and retinal surgery at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Cornell Medical Center.
He provides eye care for patients with retinal problems such as Diabetic Retinopathy, Ocular Injuries, Macular Degeneration and Retinal Detachments.
He also specializes in surgical complications and offers second opinions.
He has been in private practice in Hicksville and Hauppauge, NY for over 20 years with a practice focus on Macular Degeneration and has treated thousands of patients with this condition.
He served as a Clinical Investigator for Visudyne PDT therapy prior to its approval, is a Novatris Medical Advisory Board member, and has been a consultant and educator for EyeTech, OSI, and Pfizer for Macugen.
Dr. Maisel is the chairman of ZyDoc Medical Transcription, a medical informatics company, a corporate Advisory Board member for the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), a Juvenile Diabetes Foundation Medical Advisory board member, a member of the AAO Low Vision Instrument and Device Committee and wrote many of the ANSI Z-80 ophthalmic industry standards.
Dr.
Maisel is a faculty member of NYU Medical Center and teaches retina and laser surgery in the residency programs at North Shore University Hospital-Cornell Medical Center and Nassau County Medical Center.
He has authored numerous professional journal articles and frequently lectures at hospital and medical organizations.
In addition, he has received research grants from the U.S. Public Health Service and the National Institute of Health. The primary objectives of Dr.
Maisel are to help patients obtain the best possible vision and to provide quality medical care with a personalized approach to treatment.? 2006 James Maisel MD.
Causes and Effects Of Acne ? Understand Your Acne Treatment
There are several acne care treatment methods that work well and are not very time consuming or expensive. Such techniques would be the treatment with alpha hydroxy acid or several forms of chemical peels that can do wonders for zit treatments. These methods of getting rid of acne are proven and effective and many cases of patients suffering from aggravated pimple irritation found these to be the perfect acne treatment. In the following article we will look closely at the above-mentioned acne care treatment methods and help you decide which technique will work best for your pimple problems. Acne Care TreatmentThe causes of acne are tied to the changes that happen when a child passes from infancy to puberty.
Many persons still believe that acne is caused by dirty skin. The truth is, instead, is that to only wash the skin does not make acne disappear, nor does it prevent it. Adult acne treatment methods works just like those addressed to other age groups. To wash the skin, however,...
Causes and Effects Of Acne ? Understand Your Acne Treatment
Laser printer > Causes and Effects Of Acne ? Understand Your Acne Treatment
Benefits Of Business Card Printing
One of the benefits of business card printing is that it allows a cheaper printing service. From stationery to business cards, you can have your company's printing needs filled for a fraction of the cost you would pay elsewhere. No need to worry, for you can find such cheap printing online is indeed the lowest overhead. This means that lower rents, storefront costs, and fewer staffing needs mean lower prices for you, the customer, in the long run.You might think that because of its lower price, the quality might be in trouble?think again
because one of the best things about cheap printing online is the high quality of the work produced. Because you can often set up or preview your order online, you can see just how wonderful your cheap printing job will turn out--even before it's completed.
So it's very frustrating to fall into the mindtrap that something has to be pricey to be any good. The most important thing about cheap printing is that you save your company money....
Benefits Of Business Card Printing
Laser printer > Benefits Of Business Card Printing
Teeth Whitening - Laser Bleaching Systems And Non-Laser Bleaching Systems
The search for more effective options in the treatment of tooth staining is nothing new. Historically speaking, there has been an ongoing interest in seeking solutions for whitening teeth. In ancient times the Romans used Portuguese urine in an attempt to whiten their teeth! During the 14th century, having your teeth bleached was the most requested treatment after that of tooth extraction, and was performed through the combining of metal files and nitric acid. In the late 19th century a mixture of hydrogen peroxide, ether and electricity was used. Soon after, electricity was replaced by heat.
Hydrochloric acid was introduced as a method of teeth whitening in 1916, and in 1966 it was used in combination with hydrogen peroxide. By 1970 it was established that hydrogen peroxide was the most effective stain removal agent.As most dentists know, aesthetic dentistry has become an enormous industry. The seemingly insatiable appetite of patients for better-looking whiter teeth has changed...
Teeth Whitening - Laser Bleaching Systems And Non-Laser Bleaching Systems
Laser printer > Teeth Whitening - Laser Bleaching Systems And Non-Laser Bleaching Systems
Lucentis Macular Degeneration Treatment Available - Macular Degeneration Stabilized for 95% of patients
Hicksville and Hauppauge, NY (ContentDesk) July 8, 2006 -- James Maisel, MD, a Long Island retinal specialist, announced the availability of Lucentis, a breakthrough medication for all patients with the wet form of macular degeneration.
Lucentis has demonstrated in clinical trials to maintain vision in 95% of patients and to improve vision in about one third of patients.
Lucentis was approved by the FDA on June 30, 2006 and is now available to patients for treatment in Dr. Maisels Hicksville and Hauppauge offices.Macular degeneration is the leading cause of severe visual loss in patients over 65. The macula is the center portion of the retina and is used for straight-ahead vision.
It is the only part of the retina capable of providing the fine vision necessary for reading and detailed work.
The macula is subject to many conditions, and most of these cause symptoms of difficulty reading, distortion or blind spots.
Macular degeneration is an...
Laser printer > Lucentis Macular Degeneration Treatment Available - Macular Degeneration Stabilized for 95% of patients
Lucentis Macular Degeneration Treatment Available - Macular Degeneration Stabilized for 95% of patients
Hicksville and Hauppauge, NY (ContentDesk) July 8, 2006 -- James Maisel, MD, a Long Island retinal specialist, announced the availability of Lucentis, a breakthrough medication for all patients with the wet form of macular degeneration.
Lucentis has demonstrated in clinical trials to maintain vision in 95% of patients and to improve vision in about one third of patients.
Lucentis was approved by the FDA on June 30, 2006 and is now available to patients for treatment in Dr. Maisels Hicksville and Hauppauge offices.Macular degeneration is the leading cause of severe visual loss in patients over 65. The macula is the center portion of the retina and is used for straight-ahead vision.
It is the only part of the retina capable of providing the fine vision necessary for reading and detailed work.
The macula is subject to many conditions, and most of these cause symptoms of difficulty reading, distortion or blind spots.
Macular degeneration is an...
Laser printer > Lucentis Macular Degeneration Treatment Available - Macular Degeneration Stabilized for 95% of patients
Is LASIK Right for Me?
The subject of LASIK is a very interesting one. There is a lot to investigate and understand about the process of getting your vision corrected through laser surgery. I hope this article helps to point you where you need to go to do the best research. There are both pros and cons to consider before submitting to this type of surgery. First, if you are already firmly set in your decision to have LASIK, read these pointers: 1.
Make sure you go to a doctor who uses the new Interlase laser for making the corneal flap. Why? Because the Interlase is 100 times more precise than the "old fashioned" method of using a microkeratome to cut the initial flap. Many speculate that most of the problems that come from LASIK surgery have been due to the impreciseness of the microkeratome device used to cut the cornea. 2. Most definitely insist on a custom wavefront laser to do the actual reshaping of the cornea.
Why? Because the custom wavefront can get rid of what is called higher order...
Is LASIK Right for Me?
Laser printer > Is LASIK Right for Me?