[Role of vascular endothelial growth factors in ocular neovascular diseases]

The most important progress in the field of retinal diseases during recent years might be the introduction of pharmacotherapy. Age-related macular degeneration for instance was an irreversible disease leading to permanent anatomical and functional changes in the macula up to the previous decade; however, the use of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents [anti-VEGFs] not only stops the progression of the disease but also improves vision in a significant proportion of patients. Ophthalmologists now deal with numerous questions about anti-VEGF agents. This review indicates how VEGFs act in normal and pathological conditions in the eye and introduces the most important agents in this category of ocular drugs