Ocular angiogenesis is a major cause of disease and permanent blindness.
The introduction of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents has
revolutionized the treatment of retinal vasogenic conditions. These drugs are now
commonly employed for the treatment of a group of ocular pathologies, including
exudative macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema, and retinal vein occlusion.
The most common anti-VEGF therapies for retinal diseases are bevacizumab
(Avastin®), ranibizumab (Lucentis®) and aflibercept (Eylea®).
Multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trials have been designed to study the
efficacy of anti-VEGF therapy in common retinal angiogenic diseases. However, when
it comes to extremely rare or uncommon retinal diseases, we must often rely on case
studies or small series to elucidate a potential beneficial effect of anti-VEGF treatment.
Continued experience with the use of anti-VEGF pharmacotherapy may offer
additional treatment modalities for these conditions that have limited therapeutic
options, and may also provide insight into their molecular pathophysiology.
In this chapter, we will describe the role of angiogenesis in retinal diseases, antiangiogenic
therapies that are available at the moment, evidence based on clinical trials
and new researches on ocular anti-VEGF therapy.
Keywords: Antiangiogenesis, Vasculogenesis, Vascular endothelial growth factor
(VEGF), Ischemia, Anti-VEGF therapy, Anti-platelet-derived growth factor (anti-
PDGF), Bevacizumab, Ranibizumab, Aflibercept, Retinal disease, Clinical trials.
