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Tips and Helpful Links for People With Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration (wet AMD)

For tips on living with low vision and helpful links for people with wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD), see below.

Quick Links

Procedure tips
Tips for living with low vision
Tips for managing anxiety related to LUCENTIS injection
Tips for caregivers

Tips to help you prepare for your LUCENTIS procedure

Clock

Before your appointment, there are a few things you may do ahead of time to help make it a smoother experience:

  • Create a list of all of the current prescriptions and other medications (like vitamins) you are taking
  • Block off several hours before and after the procedure to give yourself ample time
  • Feeling nervous? Schedule an early appointment so that treatment-day nerves can't build up
  • Arrange for transportation to/from your appointment

Tips for living with low vision

Lighting
Make things brighter
  • Improve lighting: Try using a gooseneck lamp; carry a pocket flashlight
  • Reduce glare: Cover shiny surfaces indoors; use a visor; try tinted lenses (yellow, amber, or plum)
  • Increase contrast: Use a dark black rollerball or felt pen, not a ballpoint; use a white cup for coffee
Magnifying Glass
Make things bigger
  • Move closer: Sit close to the TV and at performances
  • Enlarge: Find large-print versions of common items, such as clocks, checks, cards, remotes, and keyboards
  • Magnify: Use a lighted magnifying glass; get an electronic reader for books; enable magnification on your computer and smartphone
  • Organize: Decide on a permanent place to keep things; minimize clutter
  • Label: Mark medications with dark markers or rubber bands; mark thermostats and dials with tactile paint
Headphones
Rely on your hearing
  • Audio format: Find books and magazines in audio formats
  • Talking technology: Get a talking watch, calculator, and glucometer; enable screen reading for your cell phone or computer

Tips for dealing with anxiety related to your LUCENTIS injection

These activities may make your LUCENTIS experience more comfortable. Be sure to talk to your Retina Specialist about any discomfort you feel when receiving LUCENTIS.

Headphones

Music

Listening to music can calm your nerves and ease your mind. Ask your doctor if you can bring your own music player to treatment

Breathing

Breathing Techniques

Doing breathing techniques can help you relax and reduce stress levels

Equal breathing

Breathe in through your nose over a count of 4:

“1, 2, 3, 4.”

Then breathe out through your nose over another count of 4.

And repeat the 8‐count exercise as many times as you feel you need. This will help balance your body.

Alternate breathing

Hold your right thumb over your right nostril and breathe in through your nose.

At the height of the breath, take your thumb off your right nostril and hold your index finger over your left nostril.

Exhale and repeat the exercise by alternating your thumb and index finger.

Relaxation

Relaxation Techniques

Doing relaxation techniques can help you relax and reduce stress levels

Progressive relaxation

With your eyes closed, focus on contracting different muscle groups for 2‐3 seconds, then relaxing.

Start with your feet and toes, move up to your knees, thighs, rear, chest, arms, hands, neck, jaw, and blinking your eyes. Maintain deep, slow breaths the entire time.

Helpful links

AMDF (American Macular Degeneration Foundation)

Learn about the AMDF (American Macular Degeneration Foundation) and get resources and support.

(AAO) American Academy of Ophthalmology

Learn about the American Academy of Ophthalmology and get resources and support.

NEI (National Eye Institute)

Learn about the NEI (National Eye Institute) and get resources and support.

Is there patient support?

LUCENTIS Patient Support Specialists are here to:

  • Assist in enrolling you in the Patient Support Program
  • Provide you with information about financial assistance options

LUCENTIS® (ranibizumab injection) Patient Support Specialist

To speak with a LUCENTIS Patient Support Specialist, call 1‐866‐LUCENTIS (1‐866‐582‐3684), Monday through Friday, 9 AM ‐ 8 PM ET.

This service is for information only and is not a substitute for consulting your Retina Specialist. Only your Retina Specialist can make treatment recommendations for you.

Why should I join the LUCENTIS Patient Support Program?

If you have wet AMD, join the LUCENTIS Patient Support Program to receive more information and support, including:

LUCENTIS® (ranibizumab injection) Patient Support Specialist

Live one‐on‐one phone support with Patient Support Specialists, available Monday through Friday, 9 AM ‐ 8 PM ET

Phone Support

Call 1-866-LUCENTIS (1-866-582-3684)

Brochure

Brochures mailed to your home

Email

Emails with tips and resources to help you stay on track

Access Solutions

Information on patient assistance options from Genentech Access Solutions

Join Patient Support Program
NEXT: LUCENTIS Patient Support Program

Who is LUCENTIS for? LUCENTIS® is a prescription medicine for the treatment of patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD).

What important safety information should I know about LUCENTIS? You should not use LUCENTIS if you have an infection in or around the eye or are allergic to LUCENTIS or any of its ingredients. LUCENTIS is a prescription medication given by injection into the eye, and it has side effects. LUCENTIS is not for everyone. Some LUCENTIS patients have had detached retinas and serious eye infections. If your eye becomes red, sensitive to light, or painful, or if you have a change in vision, call or visit your eye doctor right away.

Some patients have had increased eye pressure before and within 1 hour of an injection. Your eye doctor should check your eye pressure and eye health before and after your LUCENTIS injection. 

Uncommonly, LUCENTIS patients have had serious, sometimes fatal, problems related to blood clots, such as heart attacks or strokes. 

Some LUCENTIS patients have serious side effects related to the injection. These include serious infections inside the eye, detached retinas, and cataracts. The most common eye-related side effects are increased redness in the white of the eye, eye pain, small specks in vision, and increased eye pressure. The most common non–eye-related side effects are nose and throat infections, anemia, nausea and cough. 

LUCENTIS is for prescription use only.

You may report side effects to the FDA at (800) FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. You may also report side effects to Genentech at (888) 835-2555.

For additional Safety Information, please talk to your doctor and see the LUCENTIS full Prescribing Information.