Eylea (aflibercept) is made from a human antibody fragment. It works by keeping new blood vessels from forming under the retina (a sensory membrane that lines the inside of the eye). In people with a certain type of eye disease, new blood vessels grow under the retina where they leak blood and fluid. This is known as the "wet form" of macular degeneration.
Eylea is used to treat wet age-related macular degeneration. It is also used to treat swelling in the retina caused by a blockage in the blood vessels.
Eylea is also used to treat diabetic retinopathy, an eye disorder in diabetics that can lead to a buildup of fluid in the retina and cause blindness.
Important information
You should not use Eylea if you are allergic to aflibercept, or if you have swelling inside your eyes, or any type of infection (bacterial, fungal, viral) in or around your eyes. Call your doctor at once if you have eye pain or redness, swelling or puffiness around your eyes, or sudden vision problems at any time during treatment.
Before using Eylea
You should not use Eylea if you are allergic to aflibercept, or if you have:
-
swelling inside your eyes; or
-
any type of bacterial, fungal, or viral infection in or around your eyes.
To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:
It is not known whether Eylea will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using Eylea. It is not known whether aflibercept passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are using Eylea.
How is Eylea given?
Eylea is given as an injection into your eye. Your doctor will use a medicine to numb your eye before giving you the injection. You will receive this injection in your doctor"s office or other clinic setting.
For a short time after your injection, your eyes will be checked periodically to make sure the injection has not caused any side effects.
Eylea is usually given once every 4 weeks for the first 3 months, and then once every 8 weeks. Follow your doctor"s dosing instructions very carefully.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Call your doctor for instructions if you miss an appointment for your Eylea injection.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
What should I avoid?
Eylea may cause blurred vision. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be able to see clearly.
Eylea side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Eylea: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
-
eye pain or redness, swelling around your eyes;
-
sudden vision problems;
-
seeing flashes of light or "floaters" in your vision, seeing halos around lights;
-
increased sensitivity of your eyes to light;
-
sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body; or
-
sudden severe headache, confusion, problems with speech or balance.
Less serious Eylea side effects may include:
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
See also: Side effects (in more detail)
What other drugs will affect Eylea?
It is not likely that other drugs you take orally or inject will have an effect on Eylea used in the eyes. But many drugs can interact with each other. Tell your doctor about all medicines you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
