CNIB welcomes the news that Health Canada has approved Lucentis for the treatment of vision loss resulting from retinal vein occlusion (RVO). Lucentis is the first approved treatment of its class for RVO in Canada.

“Many of our clients can benefit from this medication. In fact, in the last year alone, CNIB has provided services to more than 17 new clients with RVO each month,” said Dr. Keith Gordon Vice-President, Research of CNIB. “To learn more about whether Lucentis is the appropriate treatment for an individual’s specific condition, I would recommend all RVO patients speak to their eye doctor. We are delighted that new treatments are being developed for this serious condition.”

About RVO

RVO is a condition that can cause sudden and rapid vision loss that often leads to difficulties performing daily tasks such as reading, cooking and driving. This serious eye condition results from a blockage forming in a blood vessel in the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. Most often it is caused by the same risk factors that can cause vessel blockages elsewhere in the body, leading to heart attacks or stroke. RVO is often described as a “stroke in the eye.”

About Lucentis

Lucentis is an anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) medication created by Novartis and has been approved for use in the treatment of RVO and wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Lucentis has gone through extensive and rigorous clinical trials and been approved for ophthalmic use by Health Canada.