IX.  VITRASE FOR HEMORRHAGE RELIEF

Investigational Treatment for Patients Suffering from Vitreous Hemorrhage, and Common Complication of Diabetes

Each year hundreds of thousands of people temporarily lose either part or all of their eyesight due to a condition called vitreous hemorrhage.  This is common among diabetics and, to date, can be eliminated by waiting many months for it to clear on its own, or by major surgery.  A group of ophthalmologists have participated in a mutli-center clinical research study across the country to test a non-surgical treatment in order to clear vitreous hemorrhage.

Vitreous hemorrhage results from bleeding into the vitreous, the soft, gelatinous mass that fills the area between the lens and the retina in the eyeball.  Because the blood clouds this normally clear material, light is no longer able to reach the retina and eyesight diminishes.  Additionally, ophthalmologists are not able to see the retina through the hemorrhage in order to treat the underlying condition.

There are a variety of reasons why vitreous hemorrhage occurs, including trauma to the eye and a number of retinal diseases.  However, approximately 65% of all cases are caused by a diabetic complication called proliferative diabetic retinopathy.  In proliferative diabetic retinopathy, abnormal blood vessels grow along the surface of the retina.  As the condition progresses, the blood vessels become weaker and may bleed into the vitreous.

Currently there are two ways to treat vitreous hemorrhage.  The first is to wait and let the vitreous clear on its own.  Many conditions clear within months, but it can take up to 18 months in some patients.  During this time, vision remains compromised making it very difficult to lead a normal life.