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Eylea Pre-filled Syringe

Generic name: aflibercept ophthalmica-FLIB-er-sept-off-THAL-mik ]
Brand names: Eylea, Eylea HD, Eylea Pre-filled Syringe
Drug class: Anti-angiogenic ophthalmic agents

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com on Jan 19, 2024. Written by Cerner Multum.

What is Eylea Pre-filled Syringe?

Eylea Pre-filled Syringe (for the eyes) is used in adults to treat wet age-related macular degeneration, and macular edema following retinal vein occlusion.

Eylea Pre-filled Syringe is also used in adults to treat diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, and retinopathy of prematurity in premature babies.

Eylea Pre-filled Syringe may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Eylea Pre-filled Syringe side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives, difficult breathing, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Eylea Pre-filled Syringe may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

Common side effects of Eylea Pre-filled Syringe 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.

Warnings

You should not use aflibercept if you have swelling inside your eyes, or any type of infection 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 taking this medicine

You should not use aflibercept if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy before your first dose of Eylea Pre-filled Syringe. Keep using birth control during treatment and for at least 3 months after your last injection.

Do not breastfeed.

How is Eylea Pre-filled Syringe given?

Eylea Pre-filled Syringe 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 some time after your injection, your eyes will be checked periodically to make sure the injection has not caused any side effects.

Aflibercept is given at different intervals, depending on the condition being treated with this medicine. Follow your doctor's dosing instructions very carefully.

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What happens if I miss a dose?

Call your doctor for instructions if you miss an appointment for your aflibercept 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 while using Eylea Pre-filled Syringe?

Eylea Pre-filled Syringe may cause blurred vision and may impair your reactions. Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how this medicine will affect you.

What other drugs will affect Eylea Pre-filled Syringe?

Medicine used in the eyes is not likely to be affected by other drugs you use. But many drugs can interact with each other. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all medicines you use, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

Does Eylea interact with my other drugs?

Enter medications to view a detailed interaction report using our Drug Interaction Checker.

Biological Products Related to Eylea

Find detailed information on biosimilars for this medication.

Popular FAQ

How many Eylea injections can you have?

Eylea is usually injected every 4 or 8 weeks based on your condition. Some patients with wet AMD who do well may be eligible for injections every 12 weeks after 1 year of treatment. Continue treatment as long as directed by your doctor. Eylea or Eylea HD for wet AMD may involve fewer eye injections per year compared to other wet AMD treatments.

What is the difference between Vabysmo and Eylea?

Vabysmo (faricimab) targets vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiopoietin-1, whereas Eylea (afibercept) targets VEGF and placental growth factor (P1GF). Both agents are used to treat conditions such as macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic macular edema and are given by intravitreal injection (into the gel part of the eye). Continue reading

What’s the difference between Eylea, Eylea HD, and Avastin?

Eylea, Eylea HD, and Avastin may all be used to treat neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD), as injections into the eye (intravitreal injections). Both Eylea and Eylea HD are FDA-approved for this indication, but use of Avastin is off-label (not an FDA-approved indication - although it has been used for this purpose since 2005). Eylea HD is a longer acting version of Eylea. Continue reading

What are anti-VEGF drugs (VEGF inhibitors)?

Anti-VEGF drugs slow the abnormal growth of blood vessels associated with certain cancers and degenerative eye conditions, such as age-related macular degeneration. Anti-VEGF stands for anti-vascular endothelial growth factor. Continue reading

How long does Eylea or Eylea HD take to work?

Eylea and Eylea HD usually work within 3 months, with some people noticing improvements in as little as one month of treatment, depending on the condition being treated. For some conditions, it may take up to 6 months before a significant difference is seen. Continue reading

Does Medicare cover Eylea injections?

Medicare usually covers costs of Eylea or Eylea HD after you meet your yearly Part B deductible. Then you will usually pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for the drug and any medical services. Your costs may vary depending on if you have insurance copays, coinsurance or administration fees. Continue reading

What is the difference between Eylea and Eylea HD?

Eylea HD is a higher dose, longer-acting formulation of Eylea that has been approved to treat Neovascular (Wet) Age-Related Macular Degeneration (wAMD), Diabetic Macular Edema (DME), and Diabetic Retinopathy (DR). Eylea is approved to treat these conditions in addition to Macular Edema Following Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO) and Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP). Continue reading

Does Eylea and Eylea HD raise blood pressure?

Eylea and Eylea HD injections into the eye (intravitreal) are associated with a substantial but temporary increase in blood pressure in some patients. Increases in intraocular pressure (the pressure inside the eye) have also been seen within 60 minutes of an injection of Eylea or Eylea HD. Continue reading

When do the Eylea and Eylea HD patents expire?

Eylea patents are due to run out from 2023 to 2039; however, these should not be taken as definite dates as there are many ways drug companies can extend their patents, for example, by changing the formulation of their product. A new Eylea HD patent, US11103552B2 which relates to high concentration VEGF receptor fusion protein containing formulations, has a patent expiry date of 15 May 2039. Continue reading

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Further information

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.