Licence to save: a UK survey of anti-VEGF use for the eye in 2015.

Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections have revolutionised vision for patients with macular degeneration or diabetic macular oedema. However, the choice of anti-VEGF is controversial. Two drugs licensed for macular oedema are ranibizumab (Lucentis) and aflibercept (Eylea). A third drug, bevacizumab (Avastin), is only licensed for colorectal cancer, and therefore, use in the eye is ‘off label’.1 Yet, all three are effective. Independently supported randomised controlled trials,2, 3 and systematic reviews were unable to find a significant difference in safety or efficacy.4, 5