PROLIA AND VISION -- MUST I CHOOSE BETWEEN LAME OR BLIND?

On Thursday, May 20, 2021, I had my regular checkup and treatment at Illinois Retina Associates, a team of M.D. ophthalmologists specializing in conditions of the retina, the part of then eye that actually does the "seeing."   

I first saw these retina specialists in June, 2019, referred by my regular ophthalmologist who had noticed, during a routine examination, a condition called wet macular degeneration in my right eye.

The retinal specialist told me I had macular degeneration in BOTH eyes!  There was the more advanced retinal degeneration in my right eye as noted above, but also an earlier stage, dry macular degeneration, in my left eye as well.  

Untreated I could lose some or even all of my vision.   So every few weeks I receive injections of the drug Eylea, INJECTED IN MY RIGHT EYE, to counter this condition which affects the part of the eye that actually does the "seeing."  While these injections are scary, I am profoundly grateful that this treatment exists!   

The more recently diagnosed dry macular degeneration in my left eye can, at this point, be addressed with nutritional supplements (the AREDS vitamins sold over the counter in drugstores) in hopes that it will not mature to the more serious wet macular degeneration. 

According to the some doctors, my macular degeneration is most likely yet another "gift" from the osteoporosis drug Prolia, which I cannot stop without risking immediate, painful "withdrawal" fractures (which I have already suffered because of this!)  But others say the retinal condition is associated with the osteoporosis itself.

The treatment, as noted, for macular degeneration is periodic injections, via a NEEDLE IN THE EYE, of a drug called Eylea. https://eylea.us.

Now I must have an injection in the eye about once a month, although that time may gradually lengthen somewhat if the disease does not progress.  

The doctor administering this is very skilled, but it is still unnerving to have someone clip your eye open and stick a needle in it!

Could  be scooping water from a leaky boat! As long as I am on Prolia will this macular degeneration continue.  Or is the macular degeneration related to the osteoporosis itself?     

However, I am grateful that there are treatments for both Wet and Dry Macular Degeneration.   If not cures, they at least may slow the progression.

I am already effectively lame from the ravages of Prolia and its earlier mismanagement at the University of Chicago.  Yet there seems to be no safe way off this horrific drug!                     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here is more about the relationship between Prolia (densumab) and macular degeneration:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32026309
and 

https://www.ehealthme.com/ds/prolia/macular-degeneration/

Here is an earlier post about he effect of bisphosphonate drugs on vision:  http://www.joansbackbonedisaster.com/2020/12/are-bisphosphonate-drugs-associated.html

And here is another  article about macular degeneration and a bisphosphonate drug for osteoporosis.  

https://www.ehealthme.com/ds/fosamax/macular-degeneration/#:~:text=Macular%20degeneration%20is%20found%20among%20people%20who%20take,also%20take%20medication%20Alendronate%20Sodium%2C%20and%20have%20Hypothyroidism

Now, more than ever, how I wish I had run screaming from the doctor's office years ago when Prolia was first suggested!   

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