[jennyjuniper]

Originally Posted by Maru

Jenny, my grandmother has wet macular degeneration in both eyes and has to have the injections regularly. I believe they are a small dose of chemotherapy. It was caught early enough in her case, as a previous doctor had missed it during examinations. She credits it for saving her eyesight and has been on them for several years now. Unfortunately, it is something she needs to have done monthly. She has each eye injected once a month for several years now. A new doctor recently tried to take her off the injections slowly, and it works for some people to come off, but in her case it didn't work.

When I was caretaking for her, occasionally she would have small blood-spot in her eye burst post-shot that would go away after a few days to a few weeks. The doctor said it was normal and harmless. Her vision occasionally had small anamolies/changes... for example lines were never straight for her, but there was a small period where in those "wavey" lines, there would be small "juts". She also has a lot of floaters.

Getting the shots themselves, she's adjusted to the routine and doesn't complain about any pain at all. Her doctors are very skilled about it and she's never had issues. One time she had a different one do the injections and they just made it more uncomfortable than normal, nothing too bad though but your experience may vary by doctor.

She has very good insurance that cover the injections, that are $700/each (last I checked) without it. That's the only real downside of the injections... they are expensive, at least here.

Oh, her doctors also have her take these vitamins regularly (they order her to take them actually)... I believe it's these exactly but can't remember if it was the one on the box that had Lutein or not.

Bausch & Lomb Preservision with Lutein Eye Vitamin & Mineral Supplement
https://www.amazon.com/Bausch-Lomb-P.../dp/B0018C8ZA6


I'm sorry you were diagnosed with this. I'm not a fan of needles myself, much less doctors. It's a whole lot easier for me to take my husband and my grandmother than myself as the nurture/caretaking gene is strong in my family, but I always feel so vulnerable in these situations even on minor visits...

Edit: Btw, the drug they inject is Avastin

Thanks for the information Maru. The doctor I saw said I would have a series of 3 injections (free I'm glad to say) then be tested to see if those three had improved anything.
There are also vitamins to take (six times the reccommended dose) Synvital, Cezin or Ophtamin 20.
I've made an appointment and am quite willing to have those three injections, but the thought of having them every month is a bit off putting.
Anyway thanks again.