Patient Information - Lucentis

LUCENTIS INTRAVITREAL INJECTION

Information for patients

Your consultant or the staff at LEDC will be happy to answer any questions you have or discuss the procedure in more detail with you.

What is Lucentis (Ranibizumbab)?

Lucentis injection has an active ingredient called ranibizumab, a medicine that inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A).

It is used in the treatment of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), the condition that you are being treated for.

What is wet age-related macular degeneration (ARMD)?

The macula is the area of the retina required for reading fine print, recognising faces and distinguishing colours. In wet ARMD, blood vessels from the back of the eye abnormally grow into the macular area. If these leak or bleed, it can cause a major and rapid reduction in central vision. Sometimes wet ARMD is called neovascular ARMD as �neovascular� means the growth of new vessels.

How does Lucentis (Ranibizumbab) work?

Ranibizumab stops the growth of the vessels from the back of the eye by blocking vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), the substance responsible for making the blood vessels grow and leak.

The aim of this treatment is to prevent further growth of abnormal blood vessels and thus further vision loss. Please note that while you may regain vision already lost, this is not guaranteed. In most cases, vision is stabilised. In 30% of patients, vision improves.

A minimum of three injections is given over two months; Day 1 (the day of your first injection), Month 1 (your second injection) and Month 2 (your third injection) You will then be reviewed by your consultant and further treatments given if appropriate.

How is it administered?

Your consultant ophthalmologist will have explained the procedure to you and you will have signed the consent to treatment form.

On arrival at LEDC, and at each subsequent visit for your injection, we will do the following simple tests:

Visual Acuity (ETDRS)

Intra-ocular pressure

Blood pressure

You will be given eye drops to dilate your pupil
A topical anaesthetic will be applied to your eye
A cleansing solution, povodine iodine will be applied to your eye and the area surrounding the eye
Your face and eye area will be covered by a sterile drape
The consultant will then administer the injection. This will only take a few moments. You may experience a little pressure, but you should not feel any pain
Antibiotic drops will be placed into your eye and then a pad will be applied

After the injection

You will be asked to wait for 20 - 30 minutes, after which, the intraocular pressure in your eye will be measured again
You will need to administer antibiotic eye drops each day for approximately 3 days
You should not go swimming for at least five days after the injection
Do not rub the treated eye for at least five days after the injection

Possible side-effects

Some blurring of vision or seeing of spots (floaters) is common immediately after the administration of the injection but this should resolve after a few days.

There will also be some redness in the eye and this should resolve within a few days.

However, please seek immediate medical advice (see contact numbers below) if you experience the following:

Eye pain or discomfort
Increased redness of the eye (bloodshot)
Additional blurring of vision (different to the spots)
You develop any new symptoms in your other eye

In very rare cases, retinal detachment, cataract or damage to the retina and cornea may occur. However, you will be monitored for these possibilities.