Eylea (aflibercept)

Eylea is a brand-name injection prescribed for certain eye conditions, including wet age-related macular degeneration. Eylea contains the active ingredient aflibercept.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Eylea to treat the following in adults:
wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
macular edema following retinal vein occlusion
macular edema
retinal vein occlusion
diabetic retinopathy
diabetic retinopathy
diabetic macular edema
diabetic macular edema
The FDA has also approved Eylea to treat retinopathy of prematurity, an eye condition affecting infants who are premature or less than a certain weight at birth.
infants who are premature
For details about these conditions, see the “Eylea uses” section.
Eylea uses
Here is key information about Eylea:
Drug class: vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor
Drug form: solution for intravitreal injection (an injection into the eye)
intravitreal injection
Generic or biosimilar available? no
Prescription required? yes
Controlled substance? no
Year of FDA approval: 2011
Eylea vs. Eylea HD
Another version of Eylea is available. It’s called Eylea HD, and it contains a higher strength of the active ingredient aflibercept.
Like Eylea, Eylea HD is a solution that an ophthalmologist (eye doctor) administers as an intravitreal injection. However, Eylea HD is only approved to treat wet age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and diabetic macular edema in adults.
ophthalmologist
age-related macular degeneration
diabetic retinopathy
diabetic macular edema
This article focuses on Eylea. For more information on Eylea HD, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Eylea generic or biosimilar
Eylea is a brand-name biologic drug. It is not currently available in a biosimilar form. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a few Eylea biosimilars, but they may not be available yet. Examples include aflibercept-yszy (Opuviz), aflibercept-jbvf (Yesafili), and aflibercept-ayyh (Pavblu). Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you whether a biosimilar for Eylea is available.
biologic
biosimilar
Biologic drugs are made from living cells, whereas other drugs are made from chemicals. Drugs made from chemicals can come in generic forms. (Generics are exact copies of the active drug in the brand-name medication.)
Biologics, on the other hand, cannot be copied exactly. Instead of generics, biologic drugs have biosimilars, which are “similar” to the parent drug. Biosimilars are considered just as effective and safe as brand-name medications. And like generics, biosimilars often cost less than brand-name drugs.
Note: Eylea contains the active ingredient aflibercept. (As the active ingredient, aflibercept is what makes Eylea work.) Aflibercept is also available as the brand-name drug Zaltrap. However, Zaltrap isn’t used to treat eye diseases. It’s used to treat bowel cancer.
bowel cancer
Eylea side effects
Eylea can cause mild or serious side effects. The following lists contain some of the key side effects that may occur while taking Eylea. These lists don’t include all possible side effects.
mild or serious side effects
For more information on the possible side effects of Eylea, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can give you tips on how to deal with any bothersome side effects.
Note: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tracks side effects of drugs it has approved. If you would like to report to the FDA a side effect you’ve had with Eylea, you can do so through MedWatch.
MedWatch
Mild side effects of Eylea can include:
changes to your vision for a time after the injection
red spot on the surface of an eye caused by bleeding from a minor blood vessel
eye pain
eye redness
seeing floaters (small squiggly lines or moving spots in the vision)
floaters
feeling like something is in your eye
watery eyes
watery eyes
vitreous detachment (a condition in which the jelly-like substance inside your eyeball pulls away from your retina)
vitreous detachment
retina
eyelid swelling
Most of these side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. But if they become more severe or don’t go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Serious side effects from Eylea typically aren’t common, but they can occur. Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency.
Serious side effects and their symptoms include:
Cataracts (clouding of the lens in the eye). Unlike other serious side effects of Eylea, cataracts were one of the more commonly reported side effects. Symptoms can include: blurry or cloudy visiondifficulty seeing at nightseeing colors as fadedincreased sensitivity to glaredouble vision in the affected eye
Cataracts
commonly reported
blurry or cloudy vision
difficulty seeing at night
seeing colors as faded
increased sensitivity to glare
double vision in the affected eye
Increased intraocular pressure (pressure in the eye). Symptoms can include: blurry vision or blind spotseye paineye rednessheadache
blurry vision or blind spots
eye pain
eye pain
eye redness
headache
Retinal vasculitis (inflammation of the retina’s blood vessels) with or without blockage of blood vessels. Symptoms can include: eye paineye rednessblurry visiongradual vision loss
eye pain
eye redness
blurry vision
gradual vision loss
Note that retinal vasculitis was not reported in clinical trials of Eylea. However, there have been reports of this side effect occurring after the drug became available to prescribe.
clinical trials
Other serious side effects, explained in more detail in “Side effect details,” include:
allergic reaction
allergic reaction
endophthalmitis (infection inside the eyeball)
endophthalmitis
detached retina (separation of the retina from the back of the eye)
detached retina
increased risk of blood clots that could lead to heart attack or stroke
heart attack
stroke
You may wonder how often certain side effects occur with this drug. Here are details on some of the side effects this drug may cause.
As with most drugs, some people can have an allergic reaction after an Eylea injection. Though rare, there were reports of this side effect in clinical trials of Eylea.
clinical trials
Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include:
skin rash
itchiness
flushing
flushing
Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include:
swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat
difficulty breathing or speaking
Call your doctor right away if you have a severe allergic reaction to Eylea. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency.
In rare cases, Eylea may increase the risk of getting a blood clot that can cause a stroke or heart attack. Stroke or heart attack was reported in clinical trials of Eylea for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic macular edema. These side effects were not reported in trials for other conditions Eylea is approved to treat.
clinical trials
age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
diabetic macular edema
Symptoms of a heart attack or stroke may include:
chest pain
pain that travels down your left arm
nausea
sweating
difficulty breathing or speaking
difficulty walking
numbness or weakness in the arm, face, or leg, especially on one side of the body
sudden changes in vision
sudden severe headache
If you have any of these symptoms while using Eylea, call 911 right away.
And if you’re concerned about heart problems or stroke during your Eylea treatment, talk with your doctor.
Eylea injections can sometimes cause serious eye problems, such as a detached retina or an infection inside the eyeball. In clinical trials, these side effects occurred in a small percentage of people receiving Eylea.
infection
clinical trials
For a few days after having an Eylea injection, you’ll have a small risk of developing an infection inside your eyeball. And you’ll have a small risk of developing a detached retina, a condition in which your retina becomes separated from the back of your eye.
Possible symptoms of infection inside your eyeball or a detached retina include:
eye redness or pain in your eye that doesn’t go away or gets worse
increased sensitivity to light
changes in your vision, such as your vision getting blurrier or darker
sudden increase in the number of floaters (small squiggles or dots in your vision)
seeing flashes of light
If you have any of these symptoms after having an Eylea injection, tell your doctor right away. Eye infections will need to be treated with antibiotics. A detached retina will require surgery to treat.
antibiotics
Floaters are small squiggles, lines, or dots that move in your vision. They may develop after having an injection of Eylea, as reported in clinical trials of the drug.
clinical trials
Floaters aren’t usually serious and typically disappear after a few days. However, if you suddenly notice a lot of floaters in your vision, tell your doctor right away. This could be a sign of a detached retina. (To learn more, see the “Serious eye problems, including detached retina” section.)
Alternatives to Eylea
Other drugs are available that can treat your condition. Some may be a better fit for you than others. If you’re interested in finding an alternative to Eylea, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you.
Note: Some of the drugs listed here are used off-label to treat these specific conditions. Off-label use is when a drug that’s approved to treat one condition is used to treat a different condition.
off-label
Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) include:
age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
bevacizumab (Avastin)
Avastin
brolucizumab (Beovu)
Beovu
ranibizumab (Lucentis)
Lucentis
ranibizumab-eqrn (Cimerli)
Cimerli
faricimab-svoa (Vabysmo)
Vabysmo
verteporfin (Visudyne)
Another potential treatment option is a supplement that researchers looked at in a study called AREDS2 (Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2). If you would like to learn about the AREDS formulation, talk with your doctor.
supplement
AREDS2 (Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2)
Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat macular edema following retinal vein occlusion include:
macular edema
retinal vein occlusion
bevacizumab (Avastin)
brolucizumab (Beovu)
ranibizumab (Lucentis)
ranibizumab-eqrn (Cimerli)
dexamethasone intravitreal implant (Ozurdex)
faricimab-svoa (Vabysmo)
corticosteroid eye drops, tablets, or injections
corticosteroid
Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat diabetic retinopathy include:
diabetic retinopathy
bevacizumab (Avastin)
brolucizumab (Beovu)
ranibizumab (Lucentis)
ranibizumab-eqrn (Cimerli)
Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat diabetic macular edema include:
diabetic macular edema
bevacizumab (Avastin)
brolucizumab (Beovu)
fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant (Iluvien)
ranibizumab (Lucentis)
ranibizumab-eqrn (Cimerli)
dexamethasone intravitreal implant (Ozurdex)
faricimab-svoa (Vabysmo)
corticosteroid eye drops, tablets, or injections
According to the manufacturer, Eylea is currently the only FDA-approved anti-VEGF treatment for retinopathy of prematurity. However, other drugs may become approved for this condition. Ask your doctor about the availability of other treatments for this condition.
manufacturer
Eylea vs. Avastin
Here’s some information about how Eylea compares with a drug called Avastin.
Avastin
Eylea contains the active drug aflibercept. Avastin contains the active drug bevacizumab.
Eylea and Avastin belong to a class of drugs called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors. A class of drugs is a group of medications that work in a similar way. Eylea and Avastin both reduce leaking from blood vessels and slow down the growth of new blood vessels.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Eylea to help slow or stop vision loss in certain eye conditions that affect parts of the eye called the retina or macula. Your retina is a thin, light-sensitive film that lines the back of your eyeball, on the inside. And your macula is part of your retina.
retina
Eylea is used to treat the following in adults:
wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
macular edema following retinal vein occlusion
macular edema
retinal vein occlusion
diabetic retinopathy
diabetic retinopathy
diabetic macular edema
diabetic macular edema
Avastin is also widely used to treat all these conditions. However, these are off-label uses for Avastin according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Off-label use is when a drug that’s approved to treat one condition is used to treat a different condition.
off-label
American Academy of Ophthalmology
The FDA has also approved Eylea to treat retinopathy of prematurity, an eye condition affecting infants who are premature or less than a certain weight at birth.
infants who are premature
Avastin has FDA approval to treat only various types of cancer when used with other drugs. These cancers include:
cancer
colorectal cancer
colorectal cancer
non-small cell lung cancer
non-small cell lung cancer
glioblastoma (a type of brain cancer)
glioblastoma
kidney cancer
kidney cancer
cervical cancer
cervical cancer
ovarian cancer
ovarian cancer
cancer of the fallopian tubes
peritoneal cancer (cancer of the lining of the intestines, uterus, bladder, or rectum)
peritoneal cancer
liver cancer
liver cancer
For details about the conditions Eylea treats, see the “Eylea uses” section. For details about the uses of Avastin, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Eylea uses
Eylea comes in two forms: a single-dose vial and a single-dose prefilled syringe. Avastin comes in one form: a single-dose vial.
Both Eylea and Avastin are given as an injection into the eye by an ophthalmologist (eye doctor). You’ll typically receive the drug every 4 weeks to start, but you may have injections less often after the first few months.
ophthalmologist
To learn more about Eylea’s dosage, see the “Eylea dosage” section. For details about the dosages of Avastin, see our Avastin dosage article.
Eylea dosage
Avastin dosage
As with any drugs, side effects are possible with Eylea and Avastin.
Examples of mild side effects these drugs share include eye redness, eye pain, and a feeling that something is in your eye. They also share some serious side effects, such as detached retina (separation of the retina from the back of the eye) and cataracts (clouding of the lens in the eye).
detached retina
cataracts
These drugs can also cause side effects that differ. For more about the side effects of Eylea, see the “Eylea side effects” section. For more information about Avastin’s side effects when used for eye conditions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Eylea side effects
Eylea and Avastin are both brand-name drugs. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a few Eylea biosimilars, but they may not be available yet. (For more information, see the “Eylea generic or biosimilar” section.) Avastin has a few biosimilars available, including Alymsys and Mvasi.
biosimilars
Eylea generic or biosimilar
Brand-name medications usually cost more than biosimilars. The actual price you’ll pay for either drug will depend on your insurance plan and your location.
For information about Eylea’s cost, see the “Eylea cost” section. To learn more about the price of Avastin, see our Avastin cost article.
Eylea cost
Avastin cost
Eylea vs. Lucentis
You may wonder how Eylea compares with other medications that are prescribed for similar uses. Here’s a comparison of how Eylea and Lucentis are alike and different.
Lucentis
Eylea contains the active drug aflibercept. Lucentis contains the active drug ranibizumab.
Eylea and Lucentis belong to a class of drugs called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors. Eylea and Lucentis both reduce leaking from blood vessels and slow down the growth of new blood vessels.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Eylea and Lucentis to help slow or stop vision loss in certain eye conditions. These eye conditions affect parts of the eye called the retina or macula. Your retina is a thin, light-sensitive film that lines the back of your eyeball, on the inside. And your macula is part of your retina.
retina
Eylea and Lucentis are approved to treat the following in adults:
wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
macular edema following retinal vein occlusion
macular edema
retinal vein occlusion
diabetic retinopathy
diabetic retinopathy
diabetic macular edema
diabetic macular edema
The FDA has also approved Eylea to treat retinopathy of prematurity, an eye condition affecting infants who are premature or less than a certain weight at birth.
infants who are premature
Lucentis is also FDA approved to treat myopic choroidal neovascularization. This is an eye condition in which abnormal blood vessels grow under the macula.
For details about the conditions Eylea treats, see the “Eylea uses” section. For details about the uses of Lucentis, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Eylea uses
Eylea comes in two forms: a single-dose vial and a single-dose prefilled syringe. Lucentis only comes in a prefilled syringe. The drugs are given as an injection into the eye by an ophthalmologist (eye doctor). You’ll typically receive Eylea or Lucentis every 4 weeks to start, but you may have injections less often after the first few months.
ophthalmologist
To learn more about Eylea’s dosage, see the “Eylea dosage” section. For details about the dosages of Lucentis, see our Lucentis dosage article.
Eylea dosage
Lucentis dosage
As with any drug, side effects are possible with Eylea and Lucentis.
Examples of mild side effects these drugs share include changes to your vision for a time after the injection, eye redness, and eye pain. They also share some serious side effects, such as detached retina (separation of the retina from the back of the eye) and cataracts (clouding of the lens in the eye).
detached retina
cataracts
These drugs can also cause side effects that differ. For more about Eylea’s side effects, see the “Eylea side effects” section. For more about the side effects of Lucentis, see our Lucentis side effects article.
Eylea side effects
Lucentis side effects
Eylea and Lucentis have slightly different FDA-approved uses, but they’re both used to treat the following conditions:
wet AMD
macular edema following retinal vein occlusion
diabetic retinopathy
diabetic macular edema
The use of Eylea and Lucentis in treating wet AMD has been directly compared in a clinical trial. Researchers found that these drugs were similarly effective for wet AMD.
clinical trial
Another clinical trial directly compared the use of Eylea and Lucentis in treating diabetic macular edema. Researchers found these drugs to be similarly effective for people with mild vision loss. But for people with more severe loss of vision, they found that Eylea was more likely to improve vision than Lucentis.
clinical trial
A further analysis of this study looked at whether symptoms of diabetic retinopathy improved when diabetic macular edema was treated with Eylea or Lucentis.
analysis of this study
Researchers found that the severity of diabetic retinopathy symptoms improved to a similar degree with both treatments. But for people with severe diabetic retinopathy (with growth of new blood vessels on the retina), Eylea reduced symptoms of diabetic retinopathy more than Lucentis.
Finally, a recent review of studies found Eylea and Lucentis to be similarly effective for treating macular edema following retinal vein occlusion.
review of studies
Eylea and Lucentis are both brand-name drugs. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a few Eylea biosimilars, but they may not be available yet. (For more information, see the “Eylea generic or biosimilar” section.) Lucentis has a few biosimilars available, including Cimerli and Byooviz.
biosimilars
Eylea generic or biosimilar
Cimerli
Byooviz
Brand-name medications usually cost more than biosimilars. The actual price you’ll pay for either drug will depend on your insurance plan and your location.
For information about Eylea’s cost, see the “Eylea cost” section. For details about the cost of Lucentis, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Eylea cost
Eylea dosage
The following information describes Eylea dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.
Eylea dosages
Eylea comes as a single-dose vial and a single-dose prefilled syringe. The drug is available in one strength: 2 milligrams (mg) per 0.05 milliliters (mL) of solution for intravitreal injection. This is an injection that an ophthalmologist (eye doctor) administers into the eye.
intravitreal injection
ophthalmologist
Note: Another version of Eylea is available, called Eylea HD. It contains a higher strength of the active ingredient aflibercept: 8 mg/0.07 mL. For more information about Eylea HD, including its dosages, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
The usual dose for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one injection (2 mg/0.05 mL) into the eye. You’ll receive an injection once every 4 weeks for the first 12 weeks. After this, you’ll usually have one injection every 8 weeks.
age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
You may keep having one injection every 4 weeks, if your doctor feels this is right for you. But for most people, this dosage isn’t more effective than having one injection every 8 weeks.
Your doctor will check your vision on a regular basis. If Eylea is working for you, after 1 year of treatment you may have an injection once every 12 weeks. However, this may not be as effective as having an injection once every 8 weeks.
The usual dose for macular edema following retinal vein occlusion is one injection (2 mg/0.05 mL) into the eye. You’ll have one injection every 4 weeks.
macular edema
retinal vein occlusion
The usual dose for diabetic retinopathy is one injection (2 mg/0.05 mL) into the eye. For your first five injections, you’ll receive an injection once every 4 weeks. After this, you’ll usually have one injection every 8 weeks.
diabetic retinopathy
You may keep having one injection every 4 weeks, if your doctor feels this is right for you. But for most people, this dosage isn’t more effective than having one injection every 8 weeks.
The usual dose for diabetic macular edema is one injection (2 mg/0.05 mL) into the eye. For your first five injections, you’ll receive an injection once every 4 weeks. After this, you’ll usually have one injection every 8 weeks.
diabetic macular edema
You may keep having one injection every 4 weeks, if your doctor feels this is right for you. But for most people, this isn’t more effective than having one injection every 8 weeks.
Eylea is FDA approved to treat retinopathy of prematurity, an eye condition affecting infants who are premature or less than a certain weight at birth. The usual dose for this condition is an injection of 0.4 mg/0.01 mL into the eye. (The prefilled pen and vial contain an amount of solution that’s more than a single dose for this use. The doctor will dispose of the excess drug.)
infants who are premature
A doctor will monitor the infant afterward in case additional treatment is required for their condition. If needed, an infant may receive up to two more injections of Eylea, with at least 10 days between each injection.
If you miss an appointment to have your injection, call your doctor as soon as possible to reschedule.
To help make sure that you don’t miss an appointment, try setting a reminder on your phone. You can also put your treatment schedule on a calendar.
For most of the conditions Eylea treats, the drug is meant to be used long term. (The exception is retinopathy of prematurity.) You’ll have regular eye tests and exams to check how well the injections are working for you. If you and your doctor determine that Eylea is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely have the injections long term.
For retinopathy of prematurity, a doctor will monitor an infant who has received the drug for an extended period until they are sure the condition has improved. The infant may receive additional treatment if their doctor feels it’s needed.
Eylea uses
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as Eylea to treat certain conditions.
Eylea is FDA approved to help slow or prevent vision loss due to certain eye conditions that affect your retina or macula.
retina
Your retina is a thin, light-sensitive film that lines the back of your eyeball, on the inside. The retina changes light into nerve signals that are sent to your brain. Your brain processes these signals to produce your vision.
Your macula is a small area near the center of your retina. It’s in charge of sending nerve signals that create sharp, clear, central vision. The macula allows you to see fine details and colors that are straight ahead of you.
The rest of your retina produces your peripheral (side) vision. In addition, the retina allows you to view motion and see in dim light.
Eylea is FDA approved to treat wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This is also referred to as neovascular AMD.
age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
Wet AMD is a condition that can affect your central vision as you get older. It reduces your ability to see fine detail and colors and makes the center of your vision become darker and blurry.
Wet AMD can make it harder to read, see faces, and drive. The condition worsens over time. However, wet AMD doesn’t affect your peripheral vision, so it doesn’t cause complete blindness.
Wet AMD is caused by the growth of new, abnormal blood vessels underneath your macula. These blood vessels leak fluids and blood into the macula, causing swelling and scarring of the macula.
Eylea reduces leakage from blood vessels and slows down the growth of new blood vessels. The drug works to delay or stop central vision loss due to wet AMD. Eylea may also help improve vision in some people.
Two clinical trials found Eylea effective for maintaining or improving visual acuity in people with wet AMD. Visual acuity is how clearly you can see shapes and details. For information about these trials, see the Eylea prescribing information.
prescribing information
Eylea is FDA approved to treat macular edema following retinal vein occlusion. Macular edema refers to swelling of the macula. This can occur when fluid leaks into the macula following a blockage in your retinal vein. This blockage is known as retinal vein occlusion.
macular edema
retinal vein occlusion
Your retinal vein carries blood from your eye back to your heart. Sometimes a blood clot can develop in this vein, causing a blockage. The blockage leads to pressure building up in the vein. As a result, blood and fluid can leak out into your macula, causing it to swell. This type of macula edema causes blurred vision or a loss of vision that develops suddenly or over a few hours.
If the blockage is in the main retinal vein, it’s called central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). If it occurs in one of the smaller branches off the main retinal vein, it’s called branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).
Eylea reduces leakage from blood vessels in your eyes, so it reduces swelling in your macula. The drug may help improve your vision if you have macula edema following CRVO or BRVO.
Clinical trials have found Eylea effective for improving visual acuity in people with macular edema following retinal vein occlusion. For details about these trials, see the Eylea prescribing information.
prescribing information
Eylea is FDA approved to treat diabetic retinopathy.
diabetic retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes. The eye condition occurs when high blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels in your retina, causing them to swell or leak. New blood vessels can also grow on the surface of the retina. These blood vessels are fragile and leaky and can cause further damage to the retina.
diabetes
high blood sugar levels
Diabetic retinopathy can damage your central and peripheral vision. The condition can cause several symptoms and lead to blindness. The symptoms can include:
blurred vision
reduced ability to see colors
floaters
floaters
poor night vision
dark or blank spots in your field of vision
Eylea reduces leakage from blood vessels and slows down the growth of new blood vessels. This reduces and delays damage to your retina.
Three clinical trials found Eylea effective for easing the severity of diabetic retinopathy. For details about these trials, see the Eylea prescribing information.
prescribing information
Eylea is FDA approved to treat diabetic macular edema.
diabetic macular edema
Diabetic macular edema is a form of diabetic retinopathy. (For more on diabetic retinopathy, see the “Eylea for diabetic retinopathy” section.) Diabetic macular edema is an eye disease that specifically affects the macula. It occurs when high blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels in your macula, causing them to swell or leak.
Diabetic macular edema affects your central vision, reducing your ability to see fine detail and colors, and causing the center of your vision to become darker and blurry.
Eylea reduces leakage from blood vessels in your eyes, so it helps to reduce swelling in your macula. The drug may help to improve vision in people with diabetic macular edema.
Two clinical studies found Eylea effective for improving visual acuity in people with diabetic macular edema. For details about these trials, see the Eylea prescribing information.
prescribing information
Eylea is FDA approved to treat retinopathy of prematurity, an eye condition affecting infants who are premature or less than a certain weight at birth.
infants who are premature
With retinopathy of prematurity, abnormal blood vessels grow in the retina of an infant. These blood vessels are still developing up to a few weeks before birth. An early birth can cause the retina’s blood vessels to stop developing as they usually would. These blood vessels can be fragile and leaky and may grow in parts of the retina where they usually wouldn’t develop.
Retinopathy of prematurity usually doesn’t cause symptoms in its early stages. However, if left untreated, the retina could become damaged or detached. This may lead to vision loss or even blindness.
Besides premature birth or low birth weight, another risk factor for this condition is receiving too much oxygen after birth.
Doctors will check for this condition in babies who are at risk of developing it. Sometimes the condition goes away by itself, but some infants will need treatment to avoid serious vision problems from occurring.
Eylea works by preventing the growth of abnormal blood vessels in the retina. This, in turn, prevents further damage to the retina and may allow the eye to become more stable.
How Eylea works
Eylea is used to treat:
wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
macular edema following retinal vein occlusion
macular edema
diabetic retinopathy
diabetic retinopathy
diabetic macular edema
diabetic macular edema
retinopathy of prematurity, an eye condition affecting infants who are premature or less than a certain weight at birth
infants who are premature
These are all eye conditions that are caused by leaky blood vessels or the growth of new blood vessels in the retina or macula. These areas inside the back of your eyeball are responsible for turning light into nerve signals that your brain can interpret as images. The macula is in the center of your retina.
retina
If the blood vessels in your retina become damaged or blocked, it means that blood and fluid can leak into your retina and macula. This can cause your retina and macula to swell, resulting in blurry vision or loss of vision. And if not enough blood reaches the macula or retina, your eye will create new blood vessels. But these new blood vessels are often fragile and leaky, so they make the problem worse.
For more details about these conditions, see the “Eylea uses” section.
Eylea uses
Eylea is a type of drug called a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor. This means Eylea’s mechanism of action involves inhibiting VEGF. (Mechanism of action refers to how a drug works.)
VEGF is a protein that’s produced by cells throughout your body. VEGF attaches to special sites, called VEGF receptors, that are found in the walls of blood vessels. When VEGF attaches to these sites, it makes blood vessels leakier and stimulates new blood vessels to grow.
Eylea works by attaching to VEGF, so that VEGF is no longer free to act on blood vessels. When Eylea is injected inside your eyeball, it essentially “mops up” the VEGF that’s inside your eye. This reduces leaking from blood vessels and slows down the growth of new fragile blood vessels in your retina and macula.
Eylea helps reduce swelling in the retina and macula. The drug helps slow down or prevent vision loss in the conditions listed previously. And in some cases, Eylea helps improve vision.
The timing can vary from person to person, depending on what condition is being treated and how they respond to the treatment. Not everyone’s vision will improve with Eylea. And you might not notice if your vision stabilizes (stops getting worse but doesn’t improve). Talk with your doctor about what you might expect from Eylea treatment.
Eylea and alcohol
Eylea isn’t known to interact with alcohol. If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about how much is safe for you to consume during your treatment with Eylea.
Eylea interactions
Drug interactions can cause different effects. For instance, some interactions can interfere with how well a drug works. Other interactions can increase the number of side effects or make them more severe.
Drug interactions
There aren’t any drugs that have been specifically reported to interact with Eylea.
However, if you’re taking any treatments for glaucoma, talk with your doctor about whether Eylea is right for you. Glaucoma is a condition in which you have increased pressure in your eye. It’s typically treated with eye drops to lower the pressure in your eye. Sometimes Eylea can increase eye pressure. So Eylea could make your glaucoma treatment less effective.
glaucoma
Before you start receiving Eylea, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.
vitamins, herbs, and supplements
If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
There aren’t any herbs or supplements that have been specifically reported to interact with Eylea. However, you should still check with your doctor or pharmacist before using any of these products while taking Eylea.
Eylea cost
As with all medications, the cost of Eylea can vary. The actual price you’ll pay will depend on your insurance plan and your location.
cost of Eylea
Your insurance company may require you to get prior authorization before it approves coverage for Eylea. This means that your doctor and insurance company will need to communicate about your prescription before the insurance company will cover the drug. The insurance company will review the request and let you and your doctor know if your plan will cover Eylea.
If you’re not sure whether you’ll need to get prior authorization for Eylea, contact your insurance plan.
If you need financial support to pay for Eylea, help is available. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the manufacturer of Eylea, offers a program called EYLEA4U. For more information and to find out if you’re eligible, call 855-EYLEA4U (855-395-3248) and press option 4 or visit the program website.
program website
How Eylea is given
Eylea comes in two forms: a single-dose vial and a single-dose prefilled syringe. The drug is given as an injection into your eye. This is called an intravitreal injection.
intravitreal injection
Your ophthalmologist (eye doctor) will first wash your eye to reduce the risk of infection. Then they’ll numb your eye, using local anesthetic drops, to minimize any discomfort. Using a very thin needle that usually you won’t be able to see, the doctor will inject Eylea into the white part of your eye. The medication will reach the vitreous, the jelly-like substance that’s inside your eyeball.
ophthalmologist
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You’ll usually receive an injection of Eylea once every 4 weeks to start. After the first few injections, you’ll usually have an injection once every 8 weeks. Infants receiving Eylea will have one to three injections, with at least 10 days between injections.
Exactly how often you’ll have your injections depends on what condition is being treated and how you respond to the treatment. Your doctor will explain how often you’ll have Eylea.
To help make sure that you don’t miss an appointment for your injection, try setting a reminder on your phone. You can also put your treatment schedule on a calendar.
Eylea and pregnancy
It’s not known whether Eylea is safe to receive during pregnancy. Animal studies of Eylea found that the drug can cause fetal harm when used during pregnancy. However, animal studies don’t always predict what will happen in humans.
Animal studies
If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor about the possible risks and benefits of Eylea.
Eylea and birth control
It’s not known whether Eylea is safe to receive during pregnancy. If you’re sexually active and you or your partner can become pregnant, talk with your doctor about your birth control needs while you’re using Eylea.
birth control
People who can become pregnant are advised to start using birth control before their first injection of Eylea. Birth control should be used throughout treatment and for 3 months after the last injection.
Eylea and breastfeeding
Eylea isn’t recommended for use while breastfeeding. It’s not known whether the drug passes into breast milk or if it can affect breast milk production.
If you’re breastfeeding, talk with your doctor. They can discuss the best way to feed your child and what eye treatments are right for you.
Common questions about Eylea
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Eylea.
No, Eylea isn’t a steroid. Steroids, which may also be called corticosteroids, are medications that reduce inflammation. They may help ease swelling in your eye, but they don’t treat whatever is causing the swelling.
corticosteroids
inflammation
Eylea, on the other hand, is a type of drug called a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor. It reduces swelling in your eye by treating the cause of the swelling. Eylea works by reducing leaking from blood vessels in the eye and stopping new blood vessels from growing.
No, you should not drive after having an Eylea injection.
Before giving the injection, your doctor will use drops to dilate (widen) your pupil, so they can examine a part of your eye called the retina. This can make your eyes more sensitive to light. An Eylea injection can also affect your vision for a time. So after having an injection, you’ll need to wear dark glasses and arrange for someone to drive you home.
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Your doctor will check your vision and eyes regularly during your Eylea treatment. How often this occurs depends on what condition you have and how you respond to the treatment. Your doctor will tell you how often they want to examine your eyes.
Typically, you’ll have a dilated eye exam before each injection. (Your doctor will use drops to dilate your pupil.) This allows them to monitor your retina for any changes or problems. Your doctor will also check your vision. You may have other tests as well.
After each injection, your doctor will note the pressure in your eye.
If you have any questions about what eye tests you’ll need during your Eylea treatment, talk with your doctor.
No. There’s currently no cure for the eye conditions Eylea is used to treat. However, the drug may help control these conditions long term and help prevent your vision from getting worse. For many people, Eylea can also help improve vision.
Eylea precautions
This drug comes with several precautions. Before taking Eylea, talk with your doctor about your health history. Eylea may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. These include:
Eye infections: You should not receive Eylea if you have an infection in or around your eye. The infection will first need to be treated, and then you and your doctor can decide whether Eylea is right for you.
infection
Eye inflammation: You should not receive Eylea if your eye is inflamed. The inflammation will first need to be treated, and then you and your doctor can decide whether Eylea is right for you.
inflamed
Allergy to Eylea: You should not receive Eylea if you’re allergic to aflibercept (the active drug in Eylea) or any of the inactive ingredients in Eylea. Your doctor can tell you what these are and recommend a different treatment.
Glaucoma: Eylea can increase the pressure in your eye. So if you have glaucoma (increased pressure in your eye), Eylea could make this condition worse. Talk with your doctor about whether Eylea is right for you.
glaucoma
Heart disease: In rare cases, Eylea may increase the risk of blood clots that could cause a heart attack or stroke. So if you have heart disease, talk with your doctor about whether Eylea is right for you.
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heart disease
Pregnancy: It’s not known whether Eylea is safe to receive during pregnancy. For more information, see the “Eylea and pregnancy” section.
Eylea and pregnancy
Breastfeeding: Eylea isn’t recommended for use while breastfeeding. For more information, see the “Eylea and breastfeeding” section.
Eylea and breastfeeding
Note: For more information about the potential negative effects of Eylea, see the “Eylea side effects” section above.
Eylea side effects
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.