Anti VEGF Intra Vitreal Injections viz. Lucentis, Avastin, Eylea, Razumab

Anti VEGF injections are becoming increasingly used for treatment of various retinal pathologies like retinal vein occlusions central or branch wet Age Related Macular Degeneration, Diabetic Retinopathies Maculopathy or Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy.

They have revolutionised the treatment of conditions such as wet ARMD, Diabetic Retinopathy and Retinal Vein Occlusions. These drugs reduce the swelling in macula immediately within one or 2 injections most of the time and help patient to improve in vision clarity in the interim period.

However it is to be understood that these injections form the palliative treatment and final outcome depends on the nature of the basic disease and treatment for the associated systemic health factors like Blood Pressure, Diabetes and High Cholesterol etc. control is equally important. In many of these conditions tobacco usage in the form of smoking or with paan etc have to be stopped.

Avastin injection ( Bevacizumab ) is widely used injection which is more of prototype drug hence cheaper and almost equally effective as proved by various studies done internationally like CATT study. However it's FDA approval is for cancer of intestine, but is still widely used drug in clinical practice. Government of India had banned usage of this drug in between but now there is no ban. The effect of injection lasts for about 4 to 6 weeks.

Lucentis or Accentrix ( Ranizumab ) is a refined drug made by Genetech Company and marketed by Novartis company in India. It is designed for the eye use and there is FDA approval also for the same. It has been in the market for also almost 10 years. The effect of one injection lasts about 4 weeks.

Razumab ( Ranizumab ) is a drug manufactured by Indian company Intas and is available since 1 year. It has been also used quite extensively like Lucentis and is called Biosimilar Drug Technically. It is cheaper then Lucentis and the effect lasts for 4 weeks.

Eylea ( Aflibercept ) is the latest addition in the anti VEGF Injection list and is the best available at present time. It is FDA approved for the eye and the duration of action is about 4 to 6 weeks after single injection. Recently we use it for some complicated or severe cases like advanced diabetic macular edema or wet Macular Degeneration woth a variant called Polypoidal Choroido Vasculopathy. The primary reason being the cost of the injection.