Kimmel Retina Center takes great pride in offering the newest, state-of-the-art treatments for diseases of the retina and vitreous.

Recently, the FDA approved LUCENTIS, the best drug ever approved to treat wet macular degeneration. Kimmel Retina Center offers this FDA-approved treatment.

In studies, the following results have been shown with LUCENTIS:

• Ninety-five percent (95%) of patients with wet macular degeneration receiving LUCENTIS did not have any progression of their wet macular degeneration, which otherwise is a progressive, blinding illness.
• Forty-one percent (41%) of patients receiving LUCENTIS improved their sight by three lines of vision on the visual acuity chart or more.

PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY (PDT) is an FDA approved treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration due to choroidal neovascularization (see the section on macular degeneration).

This two-stage process first involves injecting the drug Visudyne into a vein in the patient's arm. In a short period of time the drug localizes underneath the macula of the eye to the blood vessel membrane that is bleeding. A special laser is then used to destroy the bleeding membrane. Dr. Kimmel will order repeat treatments as necessary to effectively obliterate the bleeding membrane.

AVASTIN is an FDA approved drug that is used in high doses intravenously to treat colorectal cancer. In clinical studies, AVASTIN has been shown to be efficacious in retinal diseases in small amounts by intravitreal injection. AVASTIN is used by retinal specialists worldwide. AVASTIN is used "off-label" for retinal diseases. "Off label" means that a drug is FDA approved for a different condition than you are receiving it for. AVASTIN is effective for patients with retinal vascular diseases, including but not limited to:

• Wet macular degeneration.
• Ischemic diabetic retinopathy.
• Ischemic retinal vein occlusions.
• Other retinal vascular diseases.
• Other retinal conditions.

Kimmel Retina Center offers this treatment as well.

(The Morning Call Inc., Copyright 11/21/06)

Solution gives gift of second sight

Lucentis credited with restoring vision for many with macular degeneration.

By Ann Wlazelek Of The Morning Call

Lying on his back with an "X" drawn above his left brow and his eyelids held back, 69-year-old Ernie Davis looks up and to the right as his doctor uses a cotton swab and drops to clean and numb the white part of his left eye. more >>