Lucentis (Ranibizumab) for Eales' Disease

This is a six-month study. Eligible subjects will receive one injection of the study drug into one eye for each of three months. Visual acuity, blood pressure and eye pressure will be tested. Subjects' retinas will be examined and thickness measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT). Safety visits will be scheduled for the week after the injections. The investigators will monitor the subjects' eyes for infection and inflammation. After the three-month treatment period, subjects will return to the clinic monthly for four follow-up visits. Procedures and tests that will be performed at the follow-up visits include visual acuity, a retinal exam including OCT, blood pressure, and eye pressure.

Inclusion criteria

• Ability to provide written informed consent and comply with study assessments for the full duration of the study.
• Age > 21 years.
• Disease related considerations:
• For both treatment naïve and previously treated patients:

• exclusion of all other causes of cystoid macular edema and retinal nonperfusion including branch or central vein occlusion, diabetic retinopathy, sickle retinopathy, sarcoidosis, systemic lupus and other collagen vascular diseases
• chronic cystoid macular edema as noted clinically and on OCT 3 testing with persistent loss of visual acuity for 3 months or longer
• if the eye has received prior treatment (including laser photocoagulation and steroids) a 30 day washout period will be required prior to treatment with Lucentis.
• BCVA using ETDRS charts of 20/40 to 20/400 (Snellen equivalent) in the study eye.
• OCT 3 central subfield > or = 250 on 2 separate readings in the central subfield.
• Only one eye will be assessed in the study. If both eyes are eligible, the investigator will determine which eye will be entered into the study.

Exclusion criteria

• Treatment for macular edema with intravitreal steroid or macugen within 30 days prior to enrollment in this study.
• Previous vitrectomy within the past 6 months.
• Previous cataract surgery within the preceding 12 months.
• Active intraocular inflammation in the study eye.
• Current vitreous hemorrhage in the study eye.
• Active infectious conjunctivitis, keratitis, scleritis, or endophthalmitis in either eye.
• A condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would preclude participation in the study (e.g., unstable medical status including blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and glycemic control).
• Participation in an investigational trial within 30 days of randomization that involved.
• Treatment with any drug that has not received regulatory approval at the time of study entry.
• Known allergy to any component of the study drug.
• Blood pressure > 180/110 (systolic above 180 OR diastolic above 110).
• If blood pressure is brought below 180/110 by anti-hypertensive treatment, subject can become eligible.
• Major surgery within 28 days prior to randomization or major surgery planned during the next 6 months. Major surgery is defined as a surgical procedure that is more extensive than fine needle biopsy/aspiration, placement of a central venous access device, removal/biopsy of a skin lesion, or placement of a peripheral venous catheter.
• Myocardial infarction, other cardiac event requiring hospitalization, stroke, transient ischemic attack, or treatment for acute congestive heart failure within 6 months prior to randomization.
• Systemic anti-VEGF or pro-VEGF treatment within 3 months prior to randomization.
• Systemic anti-VEGF or pro-VEGF treatment used during the 6 months of the study.
• Current treatment for active systemic infection.
• History of recurrent significant infections or bacterial infections.
• Subject is expecting to move out of the area of the clinical center to an area not covered by another clinical center during the 6 months of the study.
• Subjects meeting any of the following criteria will be excluded from the study:

• Pregnancy (positive pregnancy test).
• Prior enrollment in the study.
• Any other condition that the investigator believes would pose a significant hazard to the subject if the investigational therapy were initiated.
• Participation in another simultaneous medical investigation or trial.