Wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow in the back of the eye. As the blood vessels grow, they can leak blood and fluid, which damage the macula. The macula—which is the center of your retina—plays a key role in your central vision. LUCENTIS® (ranibizumab injection) is designed to block abnormal blood vessel growth and leakage.
Along with the abnormal growth blood vessels, certain proteins are thought to play a big part in causing wet AMD.
LUCENTIS is a treatment that targets these proteins—preventing them from causing more damage and possibly even reversing their effects.
Understanding wet AMD and LUCENTIS
To visualize this, imagine the roots of a tree growing and spreading until they actually uproot a sidewalk. Then imagine rainwater seeping up throughout the cracks. These abnormal blood vessels (the "roots") tend to be very fragile. They often grow, and leak or bleed, causing scarring of the macula. This damage to the macula results in rapid central vision loss.
LUCENTIS stops the fragile roots from growing and spreading.
Who is LUCENTIS for?
LUCENTIS® (ranibizumab injection) is a prescription medicine for the treatment of patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Important LUCENTIS Safety Information
Like any prescription medication, LUCENTIS is not for everyone. You should not use LUCENTIS if you have an infection in or around the eye.
Like other injections given into the eye, serious eye infection (endophthalmitis) and detached retina have occurred with LUCENTIS. Increases in eye pressure have been seen within 1 hour of an injection. Your eye doctor should monitor your eye pressure and eye health during the week after the injection. If your eye becomes red, sensitive to light, painful, or has a change in vision, you should seek immediate care from your eye doctor.
Although uncommon, conditions associated with eye- and non–eye-related blood clots (arterial thromboembolic events) may occur.
Serious side effects related to the injection procedure were rare. These included serious eye infection, detached retina, and cataract. Other uncommon serious side effects included inflammation inside the eye and increased eye pressure.
The most common eye-related side effects were red eye, eye pain, small specks in vision, the feeling that something is in your eye, and increased tears. The most common non–eye-related side effects were high blood pressure, nose and throat infection, and headache.
LUCENTIS is for prescription use only.
Individual results with LUCENTIS may vary.
Please see LUCENTIS full Prescribing Information.
