Visudyne® (verteporfin for injection) therapy for wet AMD | Visudyne (verteporfin for injection) therapy for AMD

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If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration, commonly called AMD, you've come to the right place to learn more about this increasingly common disease of the eye.

There are different kinds of AMD—dry and wet.

Visudyne^® verteporfin for injection is approved for the treatment of one type of wet AMD called predominantly classic subfoveal CNV. It works in a unique way and is proven to help slow the progression of this type of the disease.

If your life has been touched by AMD, gaining knowledge about the condition is one of the best things you can do. Use this Web site to learn as much as you can about AMD.

If you have AMD, contact your ophthalmologist or retinal specialist to find out if Visudyne therapy is a good fit for your treatment regimen.

Is Visudyne for me?

Visudyne is a treatment to help slow the loss of vision in persons with predominantly classic wet AMD.

Important Safety Information

Visudyne therapy is not for everyone. People who have an abnormal sensitivity to light (a condition called porphyria) and those with allergies to any of the ingredients should not receive Visudyne. (Your doctor has a list of ingredients in Visudyne.) Check with your doctor or healthcare professional to see if you might be allergic to any component of Visudyne therapy. Only your doctor can determine if Visudyne is right for you.

Between 1% and 5% of patients experienced a substantial decrease in vision in the first 7 days after treatment, though some patients achieved partial recovery. Patients who experience substantial vision loss should consult their ophthalmologist or retinal specialist immediately. The most commonly reported adverse events (10-30%) were injection site reactions, temporary back pain during injection, changes in vision, including blurring, decreased sharpness in vision, and gaps in vision.

Patients should avoid direct sunlight or bright indoor light for 5 days following therapy with Visudyne.

Patients who have to go outdoors in daylight after treatment must protect all parts of their skin and eyes by wearing protective clothing and dark glasses. Ultraviolet (UV) sunscreens are not effective in protecting against photosensitivity reactions.