Beta-blockers may lessen frequency of injections

Patients being treated for wet macular degeneration with intravitreal injections of Avastin may require fewer injections if also treated with systemic beta-blockers. The recent study which involved 46 patients who had wet macular degeneration revealed that those patients who were also being treated with beta-blockers required on average 5.2 injections compared to 7.9 in those not on beta-blockers. Follow-up visits at 12 months noted an average gain of visual acuity of 0.9 letters and -2.1 letters at 24 months. A reduction in foveal thickness was also noted.*