Eylea is a medication used for the treatment of certain eye conditions, particularly retinal diseases characterized by abnormal blood vessel growth. The active ingredient in Eylea is aflibercept.
Aflibercept is a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor. VEGF is a protein that plays a crucial role in promoting the growth of new blood vessels, a process known as angiogenesis. In certain eye conditions, such as wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic macular edema (DME), and macular edema following retinal vein occlusion (RVO), abnormal blood vessel growth can lead to vision problems.
Eylea works by blocking the effects of VEGF, thereby inhibiting the growth of abnormal blood vessels and reducing vascular permeability. This helps to alleviate the underlying causes of vision impairment in these conditions.
Conditions for which Eylea is commonly prescribed include:
Eylea is typically administered through injections directly into the eye (intravitreal injections). The frequency and duration of treatment are determined by the prescribing healthcare professional based on the specific eye condition and individual patient response.
As with any medication, Eylea may have potential side effects, and its use should be carefully monitored by an ophthalmologist or retinal specialist. Patients considering or undergoing treatment with Eylea should discuss any concerns or questions with their healthcare provider.
High dose Eylea was approved in 2023 for the treatment of wet macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema. HD Eylea is a four times higher dose of drug per injection compared to regular Eylea.
EYLEA HD helped 83% of patients with Wet AMD and 93% with DME go 3 or 4 months between treatments after 3 initial monthly doses.
Eylea (aflibercept) is a medication that has been found to be effective in the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), providing several benefits for patients with this condition. Here are some details on the benefits of using Eylea for wet AMD:
It’s important to note that while Eylea has shown significant benefits for many individuals with wet AMD, individual responses to treatment can vary. The decision to use Eylea, as well as the specific treatment plan, should be made in consultation with an ophthalmologist or retinal specialist who will consider the patient’s overall health and the characteristics of their eye condition. Regular follow-up appointments and monitoring are typically part of the treatment plan to assess the ongoing effectiveness of Eylea.
Eylea (aflibercept) is also used in the treatment of macular edema following central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) and branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). Here are some additional details on the use of Eylea for central retinal vein occlusion:
In general, about 40 percent of patients with branch retinal vein occlusion and 60 percent of patients with central retinal vein occlusion require more than four years of therapy with Eylea.
Eylea (aflibercept) is approved for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME), a condition that can occur as a complication of diabetic retinopathy. Here are more details on the use of Eylea for diabetic macular edema:
Everyone is different, but in general most patients with diabetic macular edema require about 10-12 injections the first year, about 6-8 injections the second year and then about 2-4 injections the third year of treatment. Many but not all patients with diabetic macular edema do not require ongoing treatment with intravitreal injections.