Injections of special drugs into the vitreous cavity can be used to treat both the ‘wet’ form of macular degeneration and increasingly, the complications of diabetic retinopathy, including macular oedema (fluid accumulation within the sensitive macular portion of the retina) and new vessel formation. The drugs employed include ‘Avastin’ and ‘Lucentis’ which are technically known as “anti-VEGF” compounds. These have the effect of closing abnormal blood vessels and thereby reducing the source of leakage of blood and fluid. An injection of a steroid drug known as ‘Triamcinolone’ is also used in certain cases.

The video demonstrates injection of Avastin for the treatment of a patient with diabetic macular oedema that failed to respond sufficiently to laser therapy.