Drug implant to help stem sight loss
By IANSThursday, August 19, 2010
LONDON - A biodegradable implant called Ozurdex that could help thousands of people suffering vision loss, has been approved for treatment in Britain and other countries by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) can lead to a sudden loss of vision. It is caused by blockages in the retinal veins, which drain away blood from the retinal cells at the back of the eye.
“The blood builds up and creates swelling, which damages the cells of the retina and therefore sight,” reports the Daily Telegraph.
People can experience sudden sight loss, blurred vision, straight lines appearing wavy, or the appearance of a black spot in their central vision.
The Royal National Institute of Blind People described the implant as an “exciting new development for patients with RVO, and particularly with central RVO, where no previous treatment was available”.
