Eylea (aflibercept) is a medicine injected directly into the eye to treat conditions where abnormal blood vessels grow and leak fluid into the retina. It works by blocking a protein called VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), which drives the growth of these unwanted vessels.

Eylea is used to treat:

• Wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD)
• Diabetic macular oedema (DME)
• Macular oedema following retinal vein occlusion (RVO)
• Diabetic retinopathy
  

Left untreated, these conditions cause progressive vision loss. Eylea helps slow or stop this process and can improve vision in some people.

Eylea is given as an injection into the vitreous (gel-like fluid) inside the eye by a specialist eye doctor. You will not inject this medicine yourself.

Before each injection, anaesthetic drops are used to numb the eye and the area is cleaned thoroughly to reduce infection risk. The injection takes only a few seconds.

For wet AMD and DME, treatment usually starts with five monthly injections, followed by injections every eight weeks or adjusted based on how your eye responds.

Keep all appointments even if your vision feels stable. Missing injections can allow the disease to progress.

Because Eylea is given by a specialist in a clinical setting, a dosing error is unlikely. If you experience sudden vision changes, severe eye pain, or unusual redness after an injection, contact your eye specialist immediately.

• Store in a refrigerator between 2°C and 8°C
• Do not freeze
• Keep in the original carton to protect from light
• Keep out of reach of children

Storage is managed by the treating clinic. If you receive pre-filled syringes at home, follow your specialist's instructions.

Like all medicines, Eylea can cause side effects, though not everyone experiences them.

Common side effects (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):

• Eye pain or discomfort after the injection
• Floaters (small specks or cobwebs in your vision)
• Redness of the eye (conjunctival haemorrhage)
• Increased pressure inside the eye
• Blurred vision

Serious but less common side effects:

• Endophthalmitis (infection inside the eye): signs include increasing pain, redness, and worsening vision after an injection. Seek urgent care
• Retinal detachment: sudden flashes of light or a shadow in your vision require urgent assessment
• Serious cardiovascular events such as stroke or heart attack have been reported rarely

Tell your doctor about any new symptoms after an injection, particularly anything affecting your vision or causing pain.

Eylea is injected directly into the eye and very little reaches the bloodstream, so interactions with other medicines are unlikely. However, tell your doctor about all medicines you are taking, including eye drops.

Will the injection hurt?

Most people feel only mild pressure or discomfort during the injection. Anaesthetic drops numb the eye beforehand, and any soreness afterwards usually settles within a day or two. If pain worsens after 48 hours, contact your specialist.

How long will I need treatment?

For chronic conditions such as wet AMD and DME, treatment is ongoing. After the initial loading phase, injection frequency is often reduced but rarely stopped entirely. Your specialist will monitor your eye at each visit and adjust the schedule accordingly.

Ace provides accurate and independent information medically reviewed on prescription medications. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.