Diabetic Retinopathy cleared up with a shot in the eye It doesn’t sound sexy, by any stretch of the imagination. Believe me when I tell you – it’s worth the 5 seconds! In December 2006, a study out of Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute reported significant improvements in patients treated with a drug called Lucentis. After several months of treatment (yes – an injection in the eye) patients vision improved as much as 2 lines on the standard eye chart. I’ll take it…and I did! I share my experience with you, my friends, my allies, my fellow people affected with diabetes, about my shot in the eye.  http://www.williamsoneyeinstitute.com/lucentis.php  Don’t be fooled by the needle in the eye delivery. The shot of Avastin in my eye did a world of wonder! For an eye I thought was officially on the DL – 5 seconds of slight discomfort gave me back a line on the eye chart I never thought I’d see again. This is only 1 month after my injection.   When I met with my new retinologist, Dr. Weber, the appointment went down pretty cut-and-dry. She performed the “nice to meet you” fluorescein angiogram – it’s standard procedure for new patients.  Waste not want not - no sooner did they inject the dye, it seems, we were meeting in her office discussing the possibility of an anti-VEGF treatment.VEGF stands for vascular endothelial growth factor. These growth factors are important signaling proteins that affect diabetes retinopathy. An anti-VEGF treatment inhibit the growth of blood vessels in the eye. Diabetic retinopathy is occurs when the retina tries to pop out new cells. Unfortunately the integrity of these cell membranes are weak. These new cells become leaky, the vision gets blurry, and the cells are prone to hemorrhage. Here’s why anti-VEGF treatments like Lucentis and Avastin may be a better treatment for diabetic retinopathy.What does a shot in the eye feel like anyway? For those who have experienced laser treatment – let me assure you a shot in the eye is a cakewalk compared to the merciless flashing laser beams into the retina. In fact, now that I’ve been through the song-and-dance a few times…should my MD ever suggest it again… I’m going to overrule. Don’t be fooled by the reputation of needles. C’mon – you’ve got diabetes! Needles are par for the course. So what if this shot goes in your eye? It does amazing things for your vision. Don’t take my word for it – ask your doctor if a shot in the eye is right for you.  Please write with questions, comments and suggestions for my entries. There are few things greater in life than connecting with others. Trusera is the idea spot for this opportunity. Thanks for sharing with me! -Allie Beattyhttp://www.alliesvoice.comPlease subscribe to make the world safer for people with diabetes