Aflibercept
About Aflibercept
Aflibercept is a specialised prescription medication injected into the eye to treat retinal conditions that cause vision loss. It is primarily used to manage diseases like wet age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema, and retinal swelling. By targeting the source of fluid leakage in the eye, this medicine helps prevent further decline in visual clarity.
Because this medication is injected directly into the eye by a specialist, it does not have any direct interactions with food or drink. It is given at regular intervals, and keeping your appointments consistent is essential for protecting your sight. Incorporating specific lifestyle changes, such as eating a nutrient-dense diet and protecting your eyes from sun exposure, can further support your treatment outcomes.
While the treatment is generally well-tolerated, some patients may experience mild side effects like temporary eye discomfort or small red spots on the white of the eye. However, you must contact your eye doctor immediately if you experience sudden vision changes, severe eye pain, or signs of an eye infection. Monitoring your symptoms closely after each session is a key part of staying safe.
Before starting treatment with Aflibercept, tell your eye specialist about your full medical history. Do not receive Aflibercept if you have an active infection in or around the eye (ocular or periocular infection), severe eye inflammation, or if you are allergic to Aflibercept or any of the ingredients in this medicine. Your doctor will assess whether your eyes are healthy enough to receive the injection safely.
This medicine does not typically interact with oral drugs, but it is important to discuss all other eye drops you are using with your doctor. If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or are an elderly individual, consult your specialist to understand the risks and benefits of this treatment.
Uses of Aflibercept
Medicinal Benefits
Using Aflibercept as prescribed helps protect your vision, reduce retinal swelling, and slow the progression of retinal disease. Here are the key benefits you can expect:
- Helps preserve and improve vision: Slows the progression of retinal disease and, in many cases, helps stabilise or improve vision, reducing the risk of permanent vision loss.
- Reduces retinal swelling: Helps decrease fluid buildup and swelling in the retina, improving visual clarity and reducing blurred vision.
- Supports everyday independence: By improving and preserving vision, it helps many people continue daily activities such as reading, recognising faces, and driving more safely, where appropriate.
Directions for Use
- Aflibercept will be administered by a healthcare professional.
- Do not self-administer it.
Storage
Side Effects of Aflibercept
Common Side Effects (Usually mild):
- Temporary eye pain, soreness, or discomfort
- Red spots on the white of the eye (caused by minor bleeding at the injection site)
- Seeing spots or 'floaters' in your vision
- Watery eyes or a gritty feeling in the eye
Serious Side Effects (Consult your doctor right away):
- Sudden decrease, blurring, or loss of vision
- Severe eye pain, redness, or swelling that worsens over time
- Extreme sensitivity to light
- Pus or thick discharge coming from the treated eye
- Signs of a blood clot, such as sudden numbness, weakness on one side of the body, or difficulty speaking
Medicines Containing this Salt
View AllDrug Warnings
- Avoid touching your eye: Do not rub or touch the treated eye for at least a few days after the injection to reduce the risk of injury or infection.
- Use caution after treatment: Avoid driving or operating machinery immediately after your appointment, as your vision may be temporarily blurred due to the injection or dilating eye drops.
- Monitor your eye: Check the treated eye daily for severe redness, swelling, pain, discharge, or worsening vision, and contact your doctor immediately if these occur.
- Use other eye drops correctly: If you use other eye drops, wait at least 5–10 minutes between applications or follow your doctor's instructions.
- Inform your doctor about procedures: Tell your ophthalmologist if you have any upcoming surgeries or dental procedures scheduled.
Drug Interactions
- Other ophthalmic medications: Using other eye drops or eye treatments at the same time may interfere with Aflibercept. Talk to your doctor before combining treatments.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
consult your doctorIt is not known if alcohol interacts with Aflibercept. Please consult the doctor.
Pregnancy
cautionAflibercept belongs to pregnancy category C. Aflibercept should be used during pregnancy only if the benefits outweigh the risks. Women of reproductive potential must use effective birth control pills to avoid pregnancy.
Breast Feeding
cautionSmall amounts of the medicine may pass into breast milk. Your doctor will decide whether to discontinue nursing or the medicine, taking into account the importance of the medicine to the mother.
Driving
unsafeAflibercept may cause temporary vision disturbances. Avoid driving or operating heavy machinery if you experience this.
Liver
consult your doctorIf you have a history of liver problems, inform the doctor before receiving Aflibercept.
Kidney
consult your doctorIf you have a history of kidney problems, inform the doctor before receiving Aflibercept.
Children
cautionThe safety and effectiveness of Aflibercept in children have not been established except for retinopathy of prematurity. However, please consult the paediatrician if you have any concerns.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Eat antioxidant-rich foods: Include foods rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, such as spinach, kale, and other leafy green vegetables, to help support retinal health.
- Include omega-3 fatty acids: Eat foods such as salmon, walnuts, and flaxseeds to support the health of the blood vessels in your eyes.
- Avoid smoking: Quit smoking, as it can accelerate retinal damage and increase the progression of macular degeneration.
- Maintain overall health: Keep your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels under control, as they can affect the health of your retinal blood vessels.
- Protect your eyes: Wear sunglasses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays when outdoors to help protect your eyes from harmful sunlight.
Special Advise
- Women of reproductive potential must use effective contraception during treatment with Aflibercept and for 3 months after the last dose.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD): Age-related macular degeneration is an eye disease that causes vision loss. In wet macular degeneration, leaky blood vessels grow under the retina, which causes loss of the ability to see straight ahead and difficulty in reading, driving or performing daily activities.
Macular oedema after retinal vein occlusion: It occurs when blood vessels leak into the macula (a part of the retina). This causes macula swelling and blurred vision. Retinal vein occlusion is the blockage of small veins that carry blood away from the retina, occurring due to the hardening of arteries or the formation of blood clots. Symptoms include sudden blurring or vision loss.
Diabetic macular oedema: It is a complication of diabetes that occurs when excess fluid starts to build up in the macula of the eye, leading to vision problems. Symptoms are blurry vision, double vision, seeing floaters, and seeing colours that look washed out.
Diabetic retinopathy: It is a diabetic eye disease that occurs when the retina starts growing new blood vessels. Symptoms are vision loss, poor night vision, colours appearing faded or washed out, blurry vision, and seeing an increasing number of floaters.
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP): ROP is a disease-causing vision impairment due to damage to the back of the eye (the retina) caused by abnormal growth of blood vessels.
FAQs
Aflibercept is used to treat Wet age-related macular degeneration, Macular oedema after retinal vein occlusion, Diabetic macular oedema, Diabetic retinopathy, and Retinopathy of prematurity.
Aflibercept works by stopping abnormal blood vessel growth and leakage in the eyes that may cause vision loss in people with eye conditions.
In some patients, Aflibercept may cause intraocular pressure (an increase in eye pressure) after administering Aflibercept. Hence, your doctor will monitor this condition after each administration.
Limited data is available regarding the safety of Aflibercept in patients who have had a stroke, mini-stroke, or heart attack. Inform your doctor if you have had a stroke or heart attack. Your doctor will administer Aflibercept with caution.
Your eye will be numbed with special drops before the procedure, so most patients feel only a slight pressure or a brief pinch. Talk to your doctor if you are anxious about the injection.
No, you should arrange for someone to drive you home because your pupils may be dilated and your vision will be temporarily blurry. Talk to your doctor about when it is safe to drive again.
A small, harmless red spot from a broken blood vessel is common, but severe or worsening redness can be a sign of infection. Talk to your doctor immediately if the redness is accompanied by pain.
This medicine is designed to manage chronic retinal conditions and prevent vision loss, but it is not a permanent cure. Talk to your doctor about what results you can realistically expect.
There is limited research on the effects of this medicine during pregnancy, so it is generally not recommended unless absolutely necessary. Talk to your doctor to weigh the risks and benefits.
You should avoid swimming, heavy lifting, and rubbing your eye for a few days to prevent infection and strain. Talk to your doctor for a complete list of post-treatment precautions.
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