Indian Journal of Ophthalmology (Jan 2014)

Changing paradigms of anti-VEGF in the Indian scenario

  • P Mahesh Shanmugam

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4103/0301-4738.126189
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 62, no. 1
pp. 88 – 92

Abstract

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Anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) agents have revolutionized the treatment of retinal diseases. Use of anti-VEGF agents in the Indian Scenario present some unique challenges considering the absence of compounding pharmacies, poor penetrance of health insurance and limited affordability of the citizens of a developing economy. To study the changing paradigms of anti-VEGF use in the Indian scenario, all articles published by Indian authors, data from web-based surveys amongst Indian vitreo-retinal specialists were reviewed. In the paucity of compounding pharmacies in India, fractionation and injection techniques differ from those of developed countries. Frequent anti-VEGF monotherapy offers the best anatomical and visual results, but economics of scale do not allow the same in the Indian scenario, resulting in PRN dosing and combination of anti-VEGF with laser photocoagulation, being the commonly employed treatment protocols.

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