Key takeaways

  • Eylea (aflibercept) injections can cause both mild and serious side effects, though serious side effects are rare according to clinical trials.
  • Mild side effects include eye floaters, redness, and blurry vision, while serious side effects can include retinal detachment and increased risk of blood clots.
  • Long-term use of Eylea may lead to complications such as cataracts and increased eye pressure, necessitating regular monitoring by a doctor.

Eylea is a brand-name prescription drug used for certain eye conditions, including wet age-related macular degeneration.

Note: Another version of Eylea is available called Eylea HD, which contains a higher strength of the active ingredient aflibercept. While this article focuses on Eylea’s side effects, the side effects that Eylea HD may cause are similar. For more information about Eylea HD and its side effects, talk with your doctor.

Eylea injections (shots) can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your eye doctor or pharmacist.

These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who received Eylea in clinical trials:

For details about some of these side effects, see “Side effect specifics.”

Mild side effects can occur with Eylea injections. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Eylea’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects that have been reported with Eylea include:

For details about some of these side effects, see “Side effect specifics.”

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medications safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect during Eylea treatment and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Eylea may cause serious side effects, but these were typically rare in the drug’s clinical trials. The following list may not include all possible serious side effects of Eylea. For more information, you can refer to the drug’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects during Eylea treatment, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include:

For details about some of these side effects, see “Side effect specifics.”

Allergic reaction

For some people, Eylea can cause an allergic reaction.

In general, symptoms of allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

Ways to manage

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Eylea, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.

Learn more about some of the side effects that Eylea may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the drug’s prescribing information.

Blurry vision

It’s possible to experience blurry vision during treatment with Eylea. In clinical trials, blurry vision was a common side effect after receiving Eylea injections.

Blurry vision after your dose is typically temporary and should go away on its own after a few days. In rare cases, blurry vision can also be a symptom of serious side effects.

What you can do

Talk with your doctor if you notice blurry vision after your Eylea injection. It’s especially important to contact your doctor if the blurry vision persists or worsens after a few days. Your doctor will evaluate your symptoms to check for any serious side effects. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery if you experience blurry vision during Eylea treatment.

Eye pain

It’s possible to experience eye pain after an Eylea injection. This was a common side effect in the drug’s clinical trials. The reported eye pain was mild and typically went away on its own after a while. However, eye pain can also be a symptom of a more serious condition, such as an eye infection or retinal detachment.

What you can do

Talk with your doctor if you have eye pain that won’t go away on its own. If eye pain occurs with other symptoms, you may be experiencing a more serious side effect. These symptoms can include blurry vision, light sensitivity, and double vision. Your doctor will assess your symptoms and recommend the best course of action.

Cataracts

It’s possible to develop cataracts during treatment with Eylea. With cataracts, the lens in one or both eyes becomes cloudy. In clinical trials, cataracts were a common side effect of Eylea. (However, other serious side effects of Eylea tend to be rare.) Without treatment, cataracts can lead to vision loss.

Symptoms of cataracts may include:

What you can do

Talk with your doctor if you think you’re experiencing symptoms of cataracts. Your doctor will assess how severe your cataracts are and recommend the best treatment option. Mild symptoms can be managed with eyeglasses.

Your doctor may recommend cataract surgery for severe symptoms or large cataracts. Surgery is the only way to treat cataracts.

Increased eye pressure

It’s possible to experience increased eye pressure during Eylea treatment. This side effect typically occurs within 60 minutes of receiving an Eylea injection. In clinical trials, increased eye pressure was common and typically went away on its own.

Symptoms of increased eye pressure can include:

  • eye pain
  • blurry vision
  • red eyes
  • headache
  • blind spots

What you can do

Talk with your doctor if you notice increased eye pressure after your Eylea injections. Let them know if the pressure in your eyes seems to take longer than usual to go away after your dose. Your doctor may monitor the pressure in your eyes after each dose to reduce the risk of long-term side effects.

Endophthalmitis

Endophthalmitis is an inflammation of tissues or fluids in your eye due to infection. It’s possible to experience this side effect while receiving Eylea injections. In clinical trials, this side effect was rare. However, it does require immediate medical treatment if it occurs. Symptoms of endophthalmitis can include:

What you can do

Call your doctor right away if you experience the symptoms just listed. If you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number. Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic or antifungal medication such as vancomycin and ceftazidime, depending on the type of infection.

Your doctor will administer your Eylea injections using a sterile technique to reduce the risk of this eye infection.

Some long-term side effects of Eylea can include:

  • retinal detachment
  • increased risk of blood clots and stroke
  • cataracts
  • increased eye pressure

You may have a greater risk of long-term side effects as you continue to receive doses of Eylea. However, your doctor will monitor you for symptoms of long-term side effects after each dose.

Talk with your doctor for more information about long-term side effects during Eylea treatment.

For details about some of these side effects, see “Side effect specifics.”

Yes, Eylea can cause systemic side effects. (A systemic side effect is one that can affect your entire body.)

Systemic side effects reported in Eylea’s clinical trials included blood clots. However, these side effects were rare.

Eylea mostly causes local side effects in your eye. (A local side effect is something that affects a specific area where the injection was given.) Local side effects include eye pain, blurry vision, and eye floaters.

If you have concerns about systemic side effects from Eylea, talk with your eye doctor.

It is possible to experience certain side effects right after receiving an Eylea injection at your doctor’s office. These include increased eye pressure and temporary vision changes.

After your Eylea injection, the pressure inside your eye may increase within 60 minutes. Your doctor will monitor you for this side effect and treat it if needed.

Because the injection can cause vision changes, you should arrange to have someone drive you home after your appointment. You should also avoid driving or operating heavy machinery until these vision changes go away. If this side effect persists for more than a few days or worsens, contact your doctor right away.

Other side effects that may occur soon after an Eylea injection include eye pain or redness, light sensitivity, and blurry vision. Your doctor can tell you more about what to expect after an Eylea injection and suggest ways to ease any side effects you have.

Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before starting treatment with Eylea. This drug may not be the right treatment for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. These are considered drug-condition or drug-factor interactions. The conditions and factors to consider include:

Eye infection: Eylea may be harmful if you have an eye infection. It’s likely your doctor will want to treat your eye infection before starting your Eylea treatment.

Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Eylea or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Eylea for you. Ask them about other medications that may be better options for you.

Eye inflammation: Eylea may be harmful if you have inflammation in your iris or your eye’s ciliary body structures. Your doctor will likely not prescribe Eylea if you have eye inflammation. However, other treatment options may be available for your condition.

History of blood clots: Eylea may increase the risk of blood clots, which could cause serious effects, such as a stroke. If you have a history of blood clots, tell your doctor before starting Eylea treatment. They will likely not prescribe Eylea for you. However, other treatment options may be available to treat your condition.

Glaucoma: Eylea can worsen glaucoma by further increasing the pressure in your eye. Before starting Eylea treatment, tell your doctor if you have a history of glaucoma. They’re not likely to prescribe Eylea in this situation, but may be able to recommend other treatment options for your condition.

Eylea and alcohol

It’s not known whether alcohol is safe to consume during Eylea treatment. However, both alcohol consumption and Eylea can cause blurry vision, red eyes, and an increased risk of stroke. Drinking alcohol during Eylea treatment can further increase your risk of these side effects.

If you drink alcohol, your doctor can advise you on how much, if any, is safe to consume during treatment with Eylea.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding during Eylea treatment

It’s not known whether it’s safe to receive Eylea injections during pregnancy. In animal studies, Eylea administered to pregnant animals caused fetal harm. However, animal studies don’t always predict what will happen in humans.

Talk with your doctor if you’re pregnant or can become pregnant during treatment with Eylea. They can discuss with you the risks and benefits of Eylea use during pregnancy, but may recommend against Eylea treatment during this time.

Your doctor will likely not recommend Eylea treatment while you’re breastfeeding. There are no clinical trials regarding the safety of this drug while breastfeeding.

They can discuss the risks and benefits of Eylea treatment with you during this time.

Eylea injections can cause common side effects such as blurry vision, eye pain, cataracts, and increased eye pressure. These usually are temporary but should be reported to a doctor if they persist or worsen.

Serious side effects of Eylea, though rare, can include endophthalmitis (a severe eye infection) and allergic reactions, both of which require immediate medical attention.

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Disclaimer: While Medical News Today strives for factual, comprehensive, and current information, this article is not a substitute for a licensed healthcare professional’s expertise. Always consult a doctor before taking or discontinuing any medication. Drug information is subject to change and may not cover all uses, directions, precautions, warnings, interactions, reactions, or adverse effects. The lack of a warning does not guarantee a drug’s safety, effectiveness, or appropriateness for all patients or specific uses. Learn more about our approach to content integrity.