Has anyone turned down the laser for neovascularization?

ShyGirl said:

I am debating refusing it. My quality of life is already behind average as I wasted years agoraphobic so now in my early 30's I don't have much to anchor me and this looks like one setback too much.
If you've a family and a stable life then taking up all treatments makes sense but I do wonder what rich diabetics do? The injections costs around £900 private and if I could afford a couple , would it have stopped all damage?

After all it seems like laser is only given after lots of monitoring i.e. waiting for things to worsen as during the last three years i've been told it's getting worse , better and now laser will be soon as my appointments are now fluorescein angiograms.

I also read that if you're are under 30 (I was when diagnosed in 2009) then it's harder to control but maybe that was erroneous.

This man made me wonder about it too-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZMoxU6da6s

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Unbeliever said:

My treatment consists of steroid injections {triambucolone] followed by laser . Iff there is too much fluid in your eye when laseresd the laser cannot work, If I just had the injections he reament would only be efffecive for 2 months. With laser it can be effective for abou six months. I understand NICE has approved funding for seroid implants which would las longer but there is a increased risk of glaucoma with these and he operation is not common yet.

I had several avsin injections but they had not the slightes effect upon me -only the steroid works.
Avasin is uded off-licence as a cheaper form of the astronomically expensive Lucenis. Works very well in some people. if I had responded at all to avastin , lucentis would have been ried.

It is not an either/or situation . Laser "fixes " the injections as it were. Preventing further damage and etending the life of the sterouid or whatever you have been injeced wih.

My first few sessions of intensive laser were given in my left eye which was stillleaking fluid. Not only did it NOT work but it effectively "fried " the retina. This happily coincided with the arrival of a new consultant skilled in hese injections and i have had no further rouble.
The failure of the avastin was a great disappointment as it is a much simpler procedure than the steroid and it is perfectly clear unlike the steroid which causes big black floaters for varying amounts of ime afterwards..

At present here is only laser and injections to treat reinopathy. Both one consultant explained £like putting a plaster on it"

Bg and Bp and choleserol control is really the key . Unless you are one of a very small minority who do not respond to the presen treamen.
I understand that there is a least ne drug in the pipeline.I take he view that utting a plaster on it is bettter than nothinng and will help to prevent further problems unil a cure is found.
I find he possible alernaive very unattractive.

My sigh was at the legally blind level for over a year.part of this was because of a cataract caused by the reatment- the injections are classified as surgery because an incision is made in he vitreous part of the eye. under locan anaestheic , of course,

It is always best o have these treaments at an early sage so as not to necessitate more extensive treatment later.

There comes a point at whicjh laser is no longer possible so there is an adantage to having it sooner rather than later.
I would always ask if injections to 2dry " the eye before laser are necessary or feasible. Not every clinic offers hem but patients can be referred elsewhere.

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