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Cathy, a 73-year-old educator, has always been the kind of person who doesn’t wait for life to happen—she chases it. She moved across the country on a whim, built a family in the Colorado mountains, and spent years caring for her spirited husband, Scott, through his battle with multiple sclerosis.
But one afternoon in her mid-60s, while reading at her kitchen table, Cathy met an unexpected challenge: the words on the page seemed to distort, blur, and fade. In that moment, Cathy felt the first hint that something deeper was changing.
At her next eye appointment, Cathy was diagnosed with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). At first, she brushed it off. But as time went on, Cathy’s vision got worse. She noticed difficulty with reading or working on the computer, where the letters would blur together, forcing her to double back to see a word properly.
“You don’t realize how essential seeing is until it starts to affect your everyday life,” recalls Cathy. “Hobbies I’ve enjoyed doing for years—playing piano, sewing, reading—all became increasingly difficult. When I sat down at the piano to read my sheet music, I had trouble seeing which note to play. The simple act of threading a needle for my sewing projects became almost impossible. But I shouldered the burden in silence. It was easy to blame it on age or other factors. I had bigger things to worry about than a little spot in my vision.”
Understanding Cathy’s Diagnosis: Geographic Atrophy
The worsening of Cathy’s vision intensified quickly over time and during a routine eye exam, her ophthalmologist noticed a spot in her vision that wasn’t there before. She was referred to a retina specialist who explained that she had developed geographic atrophy (GA), a late-stage form of AMD. GA affects roughly 1.5 million people in the U.S., many of whom are unaware they have it because symptoms can be subtle, sometimes progressing unpredictably and faster than expected.
As the doctor described how GA can make colors seem washed out, cause blank or blurry areas in central vision, distort straight lines, or make reading and driving more difficult—especially in dim light—Cathy realized how many of these subtle shifts she had been dismissing as simple aging.
The confirmation was unsettling. Cathy understood instantly how much of her daily life depends on her eyesight. The diagnosis left her grappling with the fear that her world might continue to blur.
Taking Control: Cathy’s Journey Toward Treatment
After the appointment, Cathy researched GA online and was struck by images showing how the condition can progress. Seeing what might lie ahead motivated her to take a more active role in seeking treatment to slow GA progression that may help preserve her remaining vision for as long as possible. When her doctor outlined a treatment plan with IZERVAY® (avacincaptad pegol intravitreal solution), a prescription eye injection used to slow the progression of GA, Cathy felt a sense of reassurance, knowing IZERVAY helps to protect healthy retina cells for longer. Prior to beginning treatment, she and her retina specialist discussed the most common potential side effects of IZERVAY, which include blood in the white of the eye, blurred vision, increase in eye pressure, wet AMD, mild corneal irritation and eye pain.
They also reviewed when IZERVAY should not be given, for example, if there is an infection in or around the eye, or if the eye has swelling with pain or redness, as well as the risks associated with IZERVAY, which include eye infection, retinal detachment or increased risk of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Please see additional Important Safety Information below.
After confirming IZERVAY was the right choice for her, Cathy began treatment. Since starting IZERVAY, her doctor has said her scans have shown the progression of her GA has slowed. In two clinical trials of 624 people, IZERVAY was proven to slow GA progression by 18%-35% in one year compared to those who were not treated.
Soon after she began treatment, Scott passed away and Cathy was suddenly faced with redefining her daily life—no longer in the role of caregiver and newly navigating the challenges of her own GA journey. The transition was difficult, yet she found strength and a new sense of independence through the support of friends and family. Over time, Cathy made thoughtful adjustments that allow her to continue pursuing the activities she loves. She now uses an automatic threader to assist with sewing and has retrained her fingers to play piano by touch rather than relying solely on sheet music. She even continues to drive, with a commitment to doing so only as long as her vision allows her to remain safe and confident on the road.
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Through these unexpected challenges, Cathy has come to an important realization: growth doesn’t come from avoiding change, but from meeting it with resolve. From moving across the country to navigating the profound loss of Scott, Cathy has long trusted that each new chapter would reveal itself if she remained open and curious. During her years as a caregiver, Cathy was always focused on others and rarely paused to prioritize her own health. In retrospect, she wishes she had taken a more proactive approach to her GA diagnosis. “Had I gotten ahead of it sooner, there may have been a chance to slow down its progression even earlier,” Cathy says. “That realization has reshaped how I think about self-care: it’s not selfish, it’s essential.”
Today, Cathy savors small rituals: enjoying a coffee after her appointments, leashing up her dog, and allowing her thoughts to drift toward whatever adventure might lie ahead. While she continues to adapt to changes in her vision and discover new ways to engage in the pursuits she values, she remains guided by the same enduring spark she’s held since childhood—still curious, still resilient and still ready to step confidently into whatever comes next.
This article reflects Cathy’s experience at the time of printing.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION AND USE
Do NOT receive IZERVAY® (avacincaptad pegol intravitreal solution) if you:
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Have an infection in or around your eye
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Have active swelling in or around your eye that may include pain and redness
IZERVAY can cause serious side effects including:
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Eye Infection and Retinal Detachment: Eye injections like the one for IZERVAY can cause an eye infection (endophthalmitis) or separation of layers of the retina (retinal detachment).
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Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD): There is a risk of developing wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with IZERVAY. You should report any symptoms (visual distortions such as straight lines seeming bent, deterioration in vision, dark spots, loss of central vision) to your healthcare provider to monitor.
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Increase in Eye Pressure: IZERVAY may cause a temporary increase in eye pressure after the injection. Your healthcare provider will monitor this after each injection.
Call your healthcare provider right away if you have redness of the eye, eye pain, increased discomfort, worsening eye redness, blurred or decreased vision, an increased number of small specks floating in your vision, flashes of light, or increased sensitivity to light.
Before receiving IZERVAY tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions including if you:
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Have a history of seeing flashes of light or small specks floating in your vision and if you have a sudden increase of size and number of these specks.
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Have high pressure in the eye or if you have glaucoma.
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Are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before taking this medicine.
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Are taking any medications, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Tell your healthcare provider about any medicine you take.
What should I avoid while receiving IZERVAY?
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Your vision may be impaired after receiving an eye injection or after an eye exam. Do not drive or use machinery until your vision has recovered sufficiently.
What are the most common side effects of IZERVAY?
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Blood in the white of the eye
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Blurred vision
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Increase in eye pressure
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Wet AMD
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Mild corneal irritation
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Eye pain
These are not all the possible side effects of IZERVAY. Tell your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.
Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is IZERVAY?
IZERVAY is a prescription eye injection, used to treat geographic atrophy (GA), the advanced form of dry AMD.
Please see accompanying full Prescribing Information.
MAT-US-IZE-2026-00285 03/26