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Anti - Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
(Anti-VEGF)
In diabetes, edema of the retina results from the rise in permeability
of the walls of small retinal vessels, which leads to leakage of fluid.
Apart from the initial consequence of edema to vision (when the
structure of the retina is disturbed) , the external pressure that arises
on the already damaged vessels makes it even more difficult to
transport blood and oxygen to the tissues. The reduced availability of
oxygen to the cells in the retina stimulates the secretion of a protein
(VEGF – Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) which stimulates
the creation of new vessels in an attempt to replace the vessels
damaged by diabetes. Unfortunately these vessels are not functional
and break, causing hemorrhages in the level of the retina in the eye.
One of the most important therapeutic means we have available
for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy, are drugs that bind the
VEGF protein, thus preventing the generation of pathological
neovascularization. Due to the constant production of VEGF by the
body, the drugs that are called Anti-VEGF factors have to be given
at regular intervals, as they do not stop the production of VEGF,
but neutralize the amount already produced. Furthermore, VEGF
protein also increases the permeability of the vessels’ walls, causing
an excretion of fluid in the tissues. The Anti-VEGF factors contribute
substantially towards reducing this induced edema in the retina.
Anti-VEGF is injected into the globe with a simple technique that
lasts a few seconds.
At
Athens Eye Hospital
we only use the approvedAnti-VEGF agents,
and the injection is performed in a sterile surgical environment
(although an injection inside the eye is not regarded as a surgical
procedure) in order to minimize the possibility of an infection or
other complication.
