Visudyne

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT WET AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION (AMD)

You are not alone

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is not uncommon. In fact, AMD is the leading cause of severe vision loss in people over the age of 60.

Overall it is a progressive eye disease that damages the macula. The macula is the part of the eye responsible for central vision, which is needed to perform straight-ahead activities, such as:

  • Reading
  • Driving
  • Watching TV

A person diagnosed with AMD has either dry AMD or wet AMD. Although wet AMD is far less common than the dry type, it is responsible for about 85% of severe vision loss. That's why it's important to visit your eye doctor on a regular basis. It's the best defense to help preserve your vision.

Parts of the eye

How vision may change over time

When abnormal vessels leak fluid and/or blood under the macula, vision loss occurs because of damage and disruption to the retinal tissue. This damage often rapidly advances over time, affecting more of your vision. That is why it is so important for you to commit to a treatment plan with your eye care professional and stick to your regularly scheduled visits.

Macular Degeneration comes in two basic types: dry and wet. Approximately 85% to 90% of the cases of Macular Degeneration are the dry (atrophic) type, while 10-15% are the wet (exudative) type. Wet AMD starts out as dry AMD. Dry AMD is the early form in which proteins build up in the retina.

Scientists think that the body recognizes that the dry AMD is disrupting the circulation of blood in the eye, preventing oxygen and nutrients from reaching the retina. In response, a growth factor is triggered, which causes blood vessels to grow in the eye, leading to wet AMD.

How changes might distort the appearance of an Amsler grid*

An Amsler grid is a tool that lets you check changes in your vision.

What those changes may look like in everyday life*

*Artists' representations and may not depict all patient situations

Indication

VISUDYNE® (verteporfin for injection) is used along with laser light treatment to stop leaking from blood vessels in the eye due to the following serious eye conditions: age-related macular degeneration (a condition affecting the retina of the eye which can impair vision), pathologic myopia (extreme nearsightedness) or ocular histoplasmosis (a certain type of fungus infection in the eye).

Important Safety Information

  • VISUDYNE® (verteporfin for injection) should not be used if you have a condition known as porphyria (blood enzyme deficiency), or if you are allergic to it or any of its components.
  • If there is leakage of medication into the tissue around the injection site, it may cause damage. If this happens, protect the area from direct light until swelling and discoloration have faded.
  • Avoid exposure of skin and eyes to direct sunlight or bright indoor light for 5 days after treatment with VISUDYNE. Wear protective clothes and dark sunglasses if going outdoors during this time. A UV sunscreen will not offer enough protection for your skin. Wear a wristband to remind you to do this. However, do not stay in totally dark areas. You should expose your skin to regular indoor and/or indirect light because doing so will help inactivate the drug in your skin.
  • In clinical studies, the most common side effects were injection site reactions (such as pain, redness, irritation, rashes and swelling) or changes in vision (including blurred vision and flashes of light). Tell your doctor about any side effects that you may have.
  • If you develop or have changes or a decrease in vision after treatment, do not drive or use machines as long as these symptoms continue.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please click here for full Prescribing Information for VISUDYNE®.

Indication and Important Safety Information