One Woman’s Journey with Vision Loss and What You Need to Know

October 01, 2024 at 10:01 AM EDT

(BPT) - Mary, a devoted mother, grandmother and educator, gradually found herself struggling to distinguish contrasting colors, a subtle but unsettling change that impacted her daily routine. While vision changes are often accepted as a normal part of aging, what Mary was experiencing were signs of a more serious eye disease that affects the retina-the part of the eye that captures light and helps translate it into images.

She was diagnosed with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which progressed into geographic atrophy (GA)-the advanced form of dry AMD that can cause permanent vision loss-and she was determined to slow it down.

'I love to travel, cook and garden. And I love my job,' Mary, 71, said. Whether she is driving to school to teach her fourth-grade students, cooking her famous eggplant parmigiana for her big Italian family or spending quality time with her seven grandchildren, Mary's vision is central to her independence.

With the help of her son and following her AMD diagnosis, Mary found a retina specialist in her area. Together, she and her doctor routinely monitored for changes in her vision, which was critical in helping to identify Mary's progression to GA.

Anyone can be affected by GA. However, there are certain risk factors that have been linked to an increased chance of developing the disease, such as:

Being over 55
Being an active smoker
Having cardiovascular disease, or
Having a family history of AMD

After being diagnosed, Mary experienced feelings of fear, which is common among those who face vision loss. 'When my retina specialist explained that my dry AMD had advanced to geographic atrophy and what that entailed, I was very upset and scared,' explained Mary. 'Luckily, my friends and family have been so helpful by providing rides to my appointments and emotional support when needed.'

In the U.S. 1.5 million people are estimated to have GA-up to 75% of whom are believed to be undiagnosed. Because the disease may advance rapidly, scheduling regular vision checkups and initiating proactive conversations with an eye doctor or retina specialist are particularly important for timely and effective disease management. The symptoms of GA can be subtle, but common signs include:

Seeing washed-out colors
Difficulty seeing in low light or at night
Straight lines that look wavy or crooked
Blurriness or blank spots in the field of vision, making it difficult to recognize faces
Loss of central vision, making it challenging to perform tasks like reading or driving

In speaking with her doctor, Mary learned there was a treatment she could try-IZERVAY™ (avacincaptad pegol intravitreal solution), a prescription eye injection used to treat geographic atrophy (GA). IZERVAY was proven to slow GA progression in 2 clinical trials evaluating 624 people with GA. In just one year, IZERVAY slowed GA progression by 18%-35% compared to those who were not treated.

Yellow convertable with rear license plate that says

For anyone over the age of 55 who experiences symptoms of GA, it may be time to talk with an eye doctor to learn more about the condition and benefits of treatment-because earlier action may help slow the progression of GA sooner. Slowing GA may help preserve vision for longer.

'I couldn't wait to start IZERVAY,' she said. 'I am so grateful, and it gives me hope that I may preserve the vision I have longer, which can help me see my grandchildren grow up and do the things I love.'

INDICATION AND IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

What is IZERVAY?

IZERVAY (avacincaptad pegol intravitreal solution) is a prescription eye injection, used to treat geographic atrophy (GA), the advanced form of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

What is the most important information I should know about IZERVAY?

Do NOT receive IZERVAY if you:

Have an infection in or around your eye
Have active swelling in or around your eye that may include pain and redness

IZERVAY can cause serious side effects:

Eye injections like the one for IZERVAY can cause an eye infection (endophthalmitis) or separation of layers of the retina (retinal detachment).
Call your healthcare provider right away if you have redness of the eye, eye pain, increased discomfort, worsening eye redness, blurred or decreased vision, an increased number of small specks floating in your vision, flashes of light, or increased sensitivity to light.
There is a risk of developing wet AMD with IZERVAY. You should report any symptoms (visual distortions such as straight lines seeming bent, deterioration in vision, dark spots, loss of central vision) to your healthcare provider to monitor.
IZERVAY may cause a temporary increase in eye pressure after the injection. Your healthcare provider will monitor this after each injection.

Before receiving IZERVAY tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions including if you:

Have a history of seeing flashes of light or small specks floating in your vision and if you have a sudden increase of size and number of these specks.
Have high pressure in the eye or if you have glaucoma.
Are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before taking this medicine.
Are taking any medications, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Tell your healthcare provider about any medicine you take.

What should I avoid while receiving IZERVAY?

Your vision may be impaired after receiving an eye injection or after an eye exam. Do not drive or use machinery until your vision has recovered sufficiently.

What are the most common side effects of IZERVAY?

Blood in the white of the eye
Increase in eye pressure
Blurred vision
Wet age-related macular degeneration

These are not all the possible side effects of IZERVAY. Tell your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see full Prescribing Information for more information.

For more information on IZERVAY consult your eye care professional or visit IZERVAY.com.

About Us

About Cabling Installation & Maintenance

Contact Cabling Installation & Maintenance

Editorial

Advertising and Sponsorship Sales

Subscriptions and Memberships

Feedback/Problems

One Woman’s Journey with Vision Loss and What You Need to Know

More News