Approval by the FDA was in June 2006. It belongs to a new category of drugs called anti-VEGF drugs , which is a fancy word for saying that it stops new blood vessels from developing.

Our eyes will try to develop new blood vessels when they are lacking oxygen due to poor circulation or because the tissues are clogged. However, the blood vessels that develop are abnormal and they leak. Such is the case in wet macular degeneration.

Wet macular degeneration is the result of the formation of new, fragile and leaky blood vessels growing under the retina.

The growth of these new blood vessels is called angiogenesis.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is secreted by cells that are oxygen deprived and stimulate the growth of these abnormal blood vessels.

Healthy adults secrete very low levels of VEGF, while those who have health conditions such as cancer or age related macular degeneration secrete high levels of this protein.

To learn more about how anti-VEGF therapy works for those with wet macualr degeneration and other treatment options go to:

http://www.WebRN-MacularDegeneration.com/wet-macular-degeneration-treatment.html