Lucentis (ranibizumab) 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 VEGF-A (vascular endothelial growth factor A), a protein that stimulates the growth of these unwanted blood vessels.

Lucentis is used to treat:

• Wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD)
• Diabetic macular oedema (DME)
• Macular oedema following retinal vein occlusion (RVO)
• Choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) due to myopia or other causes

Without treatment, these conditions cause progressive central vision loss. Lucentis can slow or stop this process and improve vision in some patients.

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

Anaesthetic drops numb the eye before each injection and the area is cleaned thoroughly to reduce infection risk. The injection itself takes only a few seconds.

For wet AMD, treatment typically starts with one injection per month for three consecutive months. After this loading phase, injections may continue monthly or be adjusted based on your eye's response.

Keep all scheduled appointments, even if your vision seems stable. Missing injections can allow disease progression.

If you miss a scheduled appointment, contact your eye specialist as soon as possible to reschedule. Do not wait until your next routine appointment if it is still weeks away.

Because Lucentis is given by a specialist in a clinical setting, a dosing error is unlikely. If you experience sudden vision changes, severe eye pain, or increased 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.

Like all medicines, Lucentis can cause side effects.

Common side effects:

• Eye pain or discomfort after the injection
• Floaters (small specks or threads 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): increasing pain, redness, and worsening vision after injection require urgent care
• Retinal detachment: sudden flashes of light or a curtain across your vision require urgent assessment
  
  

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

Lucentis is injected into the eye and very little enters the bloodstream, so interactions with other medicines are unlikely. Always tell your doctor about all medicines including eye drops.

What is the difference between Lucentis and Eylea?

Both Lucentis (ranibizumab) and Eylea (aflibercept) are anti-VEGF medicines given by intravitreal injection for similar eye conditions. They work by blocking slightly different parts of the VEGF pathway. In practice, both are effective for wet AMD and DME. Eylea can often be dosed less frequently (every 8 weeks after loading) compared to Lucentis (which may require monthly injections). Your eye specialist will choose based on your specific condition, response, and treatment history.

Will I need these injections for the rest of my life?

For most people with wet AMD or DME, treatment is long-term. However, the frequency of injections can often be reduced over time using a treat-and-extend approach, where the gap between injections is gradually lengthened as long as your eye remains stable. Some patients eventually reach a stable, low frequency of maintenance injections.

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.