Fighting Blindness has been asked to help the government decide if a new treatment should be covered by the HSE. The treatment is a new injection for Wet-AMD that has been shown to provide the effectiveness of existing treatments but with fewer injections. The current available treatments for Wet-AMD include anti-VEGF (anti-vascular endothelial growth factor) treatment injections.
In Wet-AMD, new abnormal blood vessels grow due to high levels of two proteins, VEGF and Ang-2. These blood vessels are faulty and may leak fluid or blood into the macula. The new treatment, called VABYSMO®, is the first and only FDA-approved treatment designed to block not only VEGF but also the Ang-2 protein.
VABYSMO® is a prescription medicine given by injection into the eye used to treat adults with Wet-AMD, which has shown results comparable to existing treatments available in Ireland but with fewer injections.
To inform our submission, we have launched a survey to gather information about the impact of living with this condition and the impact a new treatment might have on quality of life. The survey is conducted via Microsoft Forms and all responses are anonymous. They will be compiled into a report which will be submitted by Fighting Blindness to help the HSE make their decision.
It is really important that your voice is heard in the decision-making process. The survey is open to people living with Wet-AMD and it contains twenty-one questions, which will take only a few minutes to complete.
The closing date for completion is November 20th.
To fill in the survey please click at the link below: