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Eylea (aflibercept)

This intravitreal injection can be used for (wet) neovascular age related macular degeneration, visual impairment due to diabetic macular oedema, visual impairment due to macular oedema secondary to retinal vein occlusion (branch or central) and visual impairment due to myopic choroidal neovascularisation.  Eylea is similar to Avastin and Lucentis but works slightly differently to them. It binds to VEGF significantly more strongly than both Avastin and Lucentis, and also binds placental growth factor (another factor involved in the development of abnormal blood vessels).

The medication is delivered by injection into the vitreous jelly which fills the eye. The injections need to be repeated monthly for the first three months, following which the frequency may be reduced, although close monitoring of the eye will still be required, and further injections are likely. It is longer acting and only needs to be injected every two to three months rather than monthly in some cases. It is registered for use in the eye and funded on special authority in selected cases. More information about Eylea is available on the following website: http://www.eylea.com/international/

This page was last updated at 1:38PM on November 24, 2023.