Key takeaways
- Anti-VEGF injections are a common treatment for wet AMD. They help prevent the growth of abnormal blood vessels in the eye, which may prevent further vision loss.
- Common Anti-VEGF options include Lucentis (ranibizumab), Eylea (aflibercept), Beovu (brolucizumab), Vabysmo (faricimab-svoa), and Avastin (bevacizumab).
- Anti-VEGF injections may not be recommended for people with advanced wet AMD who have lost the majority of their vision. There are now some injections for dry AMD.
Macular degeneration, or age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is a
Injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) are the most common treatment for wet AMD. These injections can help prevent the overgrowth of new blood vessels and may prevent further vision loss.
If you have wet AMD, abnormal blood vessels are expanding underneath your macula. These vessels can leak and bleed, damaging your central vision.
Intravitreal injections contain a medication called anti-VEGF that prevents the growth of new blood vessels.
These injections are an effective treatment for people with wet AMD, but they may not be recommended for those with wet AMD who have lost most of their vision. Some injections are also now available for dry AMD.
These often painless injections can help slow blood vessel expansion and leakage and may help prevent some vision loss.
What is the macula?
The macula is located at the center of the back of your eye. It’s part of your retina. Like the rest of your retina, it has a high concentration of photoreceptor cells. This allows the macula to
The macula is responsible for central vision and fine details. If damaged, it can cause blurry vision and a lack of detail.
A few types of anti-VEGF medications are available. All are administered as an injection to stop the growth of blood vessels.
The primary differences between options are the dosages and injection frequency. You and your doctor can talk about which medication might work best for you.
Anti-VEGF options include:
| Medication | About | Dosing |
|---|---|---|
| Lucentis (ranibizumab) | In 2006, Lucentis was the first anti-VEGF biologic medication to receive Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval to treat wet AMD. | monthly injections are usually necessary |
| Eylea (aflibercept) | Two forms of Eylea are available: Eylea and Eylea HD. Eylea HD is a longer-lasting formulation. Both are biologics FDA approved to treat AMD. | monthly (initially) and then every 4 months |
| Beovu (brolucizumab) | Beovu is a biologic that’s FDA approved to treat both wet AMD and diabetic macular edema (DME). | every 2 to 4 months |
| Vabysmo (faricimab-svoa) | Vabysmo is a newer FDA approved option for wet AMD and DME. | monthly (initially), then every 2, 3, or 4 months depending on improvements |
| Avastin (bevacizumab) | Avastin was originally developed and FDA approved as a cancer treatment. It’s a popular injectable off-label treatment for wet AMD. | a few times monthly (initially), then less frequently depending on improvements |
The cost of these drugs will vary depending on whether you have health insurance and, if so, what your policy covers. You can speak with your insurance agent for a better estimate.
Anti-VEGF injections are administered directly into the clear, gelatinous area of the eye called the vitreous.
You can receive the injections in a hospital, vision center, or doctor’s office. Here’s a general breakdown of the steps:
- Before receiving an anti-VEGF injection, a professional will cleanse your eye with an antiseptic and administer numbing eye drops so you don’t feel any pain.
- The professional will use an eye speculum to hold your eyelids open.
- The professional will ask you to look away from the syringe during the injection process. Injections only take a few seconds.
- Most people report that the injections are painless. In some cases, people experience minimal discomfort.
- Once the injection is over, the eye care professional will rinse the injection site with saline.
You’ll need to have injections administered on a regular schedule. The frequency depends on the anti-VEGF medication used for your treatment.
For instance, you might receive injections every 4 weeks, every 8 weeks, or every 12 weeks.
Anti-VEGF injections won’t work for every case of AMD, and it may take time to find the right one for you. However, they are an effective treatment for many people with wet AMD.
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, anti-VEGF injections can help improve vision in about 1 out of 3 people who get them.
Injections can also help stop vision loss from getting worse in about 9 out of 10 people with wet AMD.
Anti-VEGF injections are considered safe and effective. But like all medical treatments, the following risks may be involved:
- allergic reaction to the anesthetic or saline solution
- scratch to the eye
- dry eye
- itchy eyes
- eye pain
- eye redness
- infection (very rare)
You can manage most of these risks by telling your healthcare team right away if you notice anything unusual.
Depending on the side effects you may have, your doctor can switch the anesthetic or saline solution for future injections, prescribe treatments to help soothe dry eyes, or take other steps to help reduce side effects.
If you experience any discomfort after an anti-VEGF injection, be sure to share this information with your doctor or healthcare team.
Anti-VEGF injections are the primary treatment for wet AMD. These injections prevent the growth of new blood vessels and additional vision loss.
Injections are given on a regular schedule, often once every 4 to 8 weeks. You may need more or less frequent injections depending on the dosage and which medication works best for you.
Anti-VEGF injections are generally safe and have very few side effects. If you do experience any side effects, it’s important to tell your doctor right away so they can address them promptly.