What is anti-VEGF treatment?

Anti-VEGF treatments are a group of medicines which reduce new blood vessel growth or oedema (swelling). They can be used to treat a number of eye conditions which cause new blood vessel growth or swelling under the macula area of your retina.

Currently anti-VEGF is used to treat:

  • 'wet' Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
  • Diabetic maculopathy
  • Macular oedema caused by retinal vein occlusion
  • Myopic choroidal neovascularisation (myopic CNV)

The macula is a tiny area of your central retina, which is very important for seeing detail, colour and objects directly in front of you. When there is abnormal blood vessel growth or swelling at the macula, it can cause problems with your central detailed vision and tasks such as reading, watching television or recognising faces. Anti-VEGF treatment usually has to be started quickly before the new blood vessels or swelling does too much damage to the macula.

Please also see Are there any do's and don'ts to follow after having anti VEGF treatment?

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