Will eyedrops replace injections for Macular Degeneration?

Researchers at the University of Birmingham have created a new eyedrop that can deliver wet macular degeneration treatment to the back of the eye.

Macular degeneration causes damage to the retina at the back of the eye so this is why it is necessary for the medication to be focused on that area rather than the surface of the eye. This potential treatment offers hope to macular degeneration patients who are subjected to injections. The current injection therapy can involve patients getting injections as frequently as every month at the cost of several thousand dollars per injection. And the injection does carry risks of complications including infection and retinal detachment. The eyedrops that are being studied use a cell-penetrating peptide which delivers the drug to the back of the eye within minutes. The research has only been conducted on mice right now and the drops were found to be just as effective as a single injection of anti-VEGF injection. More research must be done to determine safety and efficacy.*