Treatment FAQ

how long is eylea treatment regimen

by Prof. Melany McKenzie PhD Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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EYLEA is the FDA-approved treatment for Wet AMD

AMD

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with a recommended dose of 2 mg administered by injection in the eye every 4 weeks (approximately every 28 days, monthly) for the first 3 months, followed by injection once every 8 weeks (2 months).

Eylea treatment is initiated with one injection per month for three consecutive doses. The treatment interval is then extended to two months. injection intervals are increased in 2- or 4-weekly increments to maintain stable visual and/or anatomic outcomes.Nov 22, 2012

Full Answer

How often should I take Eylea?

“The recommended dose for EYLEA is 2 mg administered by intravitreal injection every 4 weeks (monthly) for the first 12 weeks (3 months), followed by 2 mg once every 8 weeks (2 months).”

What is Eylea treatment?

May 07, 2020 · EYLEA is usually administered once per month initially. In most cases (depending on the condition being treated and your response to the treatment), your doctor will change your regimen to one injection every 8 weeks, usually after the first 3 months of treatment. Injections are given by your doctor.

What is the recommended dose for Eylea in wet AMD?

Although EYLEA may be dosed as frequently as 2 mg every 4 weeks (approximately every 25 days, monthly), additional efficacy was not demonstrated in most patients when EYLEA was dosed every 4 weeks compared to every 8 weeks. Some patients may need every 4 week (monthly) dosing after the first 20 weeks (5 months). Monitoring your vision is important

How soon after starting Eylea will my symptoms improve?

Jun 11, 2021 · Eylea is usually given once every 4 to 12 weeks, depending on the condition being treated with this medicine. Follow your doctor's dosing instructions very carefully. Detailed Eylea dosage information

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How long should I take Eylea?

The recommended treatment doses for wet AMD is one treatment every month for 3 months, then once every 2 months after that – as long as the vision is stable. It is however not uncommon to need a treatment every 4-6 weeks instead.

Can I stop Eylea injections?

They are not a cure. If you stop the injections, you increase the risk of regrowth of abnormal blood vessels. Over the span of weeks to months, you may lose your central vision permanently.Jan 4, 2022

How often do you get Eylea injections?

Eylea comes in two forms: a single-dose vial and a single-dose prefilled syringe. Both contain a dose of 2 mg/0.05 mL. Eylea is given as an injection into the eye by a healthcare provider. You'll typically receive the drug every 4 weeks to start, but you may have injections less often after the first few months.Feb 16, 2020

Is Eylea given monthly?

Eylea was either given once a month, or once every other month after the first five monthly injections. The main measure of effectiveness in both studies was the change in the number of letters that could be read in an eye test after one year of treatment.

How do you stop wet macular degeneration?

Even after receiving a diagnosis of wet macular degeneration, you can take steps that may help slow vision loss.Don't smoke. If you smoke, ask your doctor for help to quit.Choose a healthy diet. ... Manage your other medical conditions. ... Maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly. ... Have routine eye exams.Dec 11, 2020

What can you not do after eye injections?

You should not rub your injected eye. You should not wash your face and hair or shower for 48 hours. You should not swim for a week after the injection. You will be given a follow-up appointment four to eight weeks after the injection or course of injections.

How long does it take for Eylea to start working?

People who participated in clinical trials of Eylea (aflibercept) usually had improvements in their vision, or no further loss of vision, soon after starting the drug -- in most cases within four weeks of receiving the first injection.

Can you drive after Eylea injection?

After your injection, your vision may be blurry, so you should not plan to drive until your vision returns to what is normal for you.

What is the average cost of Eylea per injection?

Eylea will run $1,850 per dose, Bloomberg reports, compared with $2,000 for Lucentis, and $16,000 for a full year, compared with $24,000 for the Roche drug.

Does Eylea improve vision?

EYLEA is clinically proven to help improve vision—which may help you read letters and see details more clearly. * In clinical trials, patients' vision was tracked for 4 years, and EYLEA was shown to maintain a majority of vision improvements with continued treatments.

Which is better Eylea or Avastin?

Eylea outperformed Avastin at the one- and two-year time points. While Eylea outperformed Lucentis at the one-year time point, by the two-year time point gains in visual acuity were statistically no different. At the end of the trial, average visual acuity was 20/32 to 20/40 among participants in all three groups.Feb 29, 2016

Why is Eylea better than Avastin?

Using optical coherence tomography (OCT) to image retinal thickness, the researchers also found that macular edema decreased significantly in both groups. Complete resolution of macular edema occurred in a higher percentage of eyes in the Eylea group (54 percent) than in the Avastin group (29 percent).May 9, 2017

What is EYLEA?

EYLEA is the brand name for aflibercept, a drug that comes in the form of a liquid that is injected into the eye to treat wet age-related macular d...

How does EYLEA work?

EYLEA works by blocking vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a protein that contributes to the growth of blood vessels. Normally, VEGF is a h...

What is EYLEA used for?

EYLEA has been approved by the FDA to treat the following conditions: EYLEA for Wet AMD Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common eye cond...

What is the difference between aflibercept and ziv-aflibercept?

The development of aflibercept resulted in two forms of the drug: aflibercept and ziv-aflibercept. While the two forms are chemically very similar...

How is EYLEA administered?

After disinfection and local anesthesia are used on the eye, the injection is administered by a qualified healthcare professional. EYLEA only comes...

Do eye injections hurt?

Although the thought of eye injections is scary for many people, anesthetic eye drops help ensure they are usually painless. If you do experience p...

Does EYLEA interact with other medications?

Only a small amount of EYLEA is injected into your eye, meaning very little enters your bloodstream. While this suggests the possibility of drug in...

Who should not take EYLEA?

EYLEA is not be used if: If you are allergic to aflibercept or any other ingredients of EYLEA You have an infection in or around your eye(s) You sh...

For how long do I need to receive EYLEA injections for macular degeneration?

There is no standard length of time EYLEA therapy lasts in the treatment of wet AMD. Your doctor will likely perform regular evaluations to assess...

What are the side effects of EYLEA?

Eye injections, including those with EYLEA, carry inherent risks. Warnings include: Endophthalmitis (inflammation usually caused by infection) and...

What are the most common anti-VEGF medications?

The three most common anti-VEGF medications include Lucentis, Avastin and Eylea, with Eylea being the most recent. These drugs serve to help inhibit and block the growth of new, but abnormal and undesirable blood vessels for those with wet AMD and diabetic retinopathy.

What is the treatment for wet AMD?

The standard treatment for wet AMD is regular eye injections using anti-VEGF medications. VEGF stands for vascular endothelial growth factor. It’s a protein that in those with AMD is secreted at higher than normal levels in the body’s ill-fated attempt and reaction to deliver oxygen to oxygen deprived retinal cells.

What is the difference between dry and wet AMD?

There are two forms of age related macular degeneration (AMD), dry and wet, with wet AMD being the less common one accounting for around 10-15% of those with this retinal condition. A person can have dry AMD in one eye and wet AMD in the other eye. Wet AMD, also called choroidal neovascularization, causes more severe and sudden vision loss due to abnormal mini-blood vessels developing under the macula and then leaking fluid causing the normally flat macula to elevate. Symptoms include straight lines appear curvy or wavy and often there is a blurred, black or gray spot in the center of one’s vision. Both of these symptoms make it difficult to use one’s straight ahead vision and interfere with reading, identifying faces, and performing everyday tasks.

How often should I take Eyelea?

The recommended and standard protocol is …. “The recommended dose for EYLEA is 2 mg administered by intravitreal injection every 4 weeks (monthly) for the first 12 weeks (3 months ), followed by 2 mg once every 8 weeks (2 months).”. Because of the cost, inconvenience and common irritating side effects to the eye, ...

Why is Eylea used in clinical trials?

Because of the cost, inconvenience and common irritating side effects to the eye, the goal of many clinical trials has been to reduce the number of and frequency of the eye injections but maintain the same or better results to the patient’s vision. It appears that goal is making progress for those who are receiving Eylea.

What does it mean when your eyes are straight ahead?

Symptoms include straight lines appear curvy or wavy and often there is a blurred, black or gray spot in the center of one’s vision. Both of these symptoms make it difficult to use one’s straight ahead vision and interfere with reading, identifying faces, and performing everyday tasks.

How long does eylea last?

There is no standard length of time EYLEA therapy lasts in the treatment of wet AMD. Your doctor will likely perform regular evaluations to assess how the treatment is performing. In some cases, your doctor may decide to stop treatment or extend the length of time between injections.

How does eylea work?

EYLEA works by blocking vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a protein that contributes to the growth of blood vessels. Normally, VEGF is a healthy and important molecule, but in conditions relating that are characterized by leaking and swelling of blood vessels in the macular (a part of the eye below the central part of the retina that is responsible for sharp, central eyesight necessary for activities such as reading), its activity makes symptoms worse.

What is the name of the drug that is injected into the eye to treat macular degeneration?

EYLEA is the brand name for aflibercept, a drug that comes in the form of a liquid that is injected into the eye to treat wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD), macular edema (the build-up of fluids that causes swelling in the edema) following retinal vein occlusion (MEfRVO), diabetic retinopathy (DR), and diabetic macular edema (DME).

What is eylea used for?

EYLEA (aflibercept) belongs to a class of drugs called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antagonists and is used to treat “wet” age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and other eye conditions. Wet AMD is characterized by the growth of abnormal blood vessels in the eye, ...

What is AMD in the middle of the eye?

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common eye condition that usually begins affecting people in their 50s or 60s. It can lead to vision loss and blurriness in the middle part of your vision. “Dry” AMD is more common and can lead to vision loss over several years.

How often is eylea given?

In most cases (depending on the condition being treated and your response to the treatment), your doctor will change your regimen to one injection every 8 weeks, usually after the first 3 months of treatment. Injections are given by your doctor.

Why is AMD called wet AMD?

It is called wet AMD because of blood vessels in the eye leaking fluids (such as blood, lipids, and serum) into the macular. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) contributes to the growth of abnormal and weak blood vessels that are often responsible for leaking fluids.

What does a doctor do with a dilated eye?

Dilated eye exam Your doctor puts drops into your eye to dilate (widen) the pupil. He or she can then see the back of the eye, including the retina, for signs of problems or changes. Fundus photography A special camera takes photos showing the inside of the back of the eye.

What is visual acuity test?

Visual acuity test Measures how well you see the letters on an eye chart from a distance. Dilated eye exam Your doctor puts drops into your eye to dilate (widen) the pupil. He or she can then see the back of the eye, including the retina, for signs of problems or changes.

What is the treatment for macular degeneration?

This is known as the "wet form" of macular degeneration. Eylea is used to treat wet age-related macular degeneration. It is also used to treat swelling in the retina caused by a blockage in the blood vessels.

What is eylea made of?

What is Eylea? Eylea (aflibercept) is made from a human antibody fragment. It works by keeping new blood vessels from forming under the retina (a sensory membrane that lines the inside of the eye).

What are the symptoms of allergic reaction to eylea?

Get emergency medical help if you have any signs of an allergic reaction to Eylea: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your eyes, face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as: eye pain or redness, swelling around your eyes; sudden vision problems;

What does it mean when your eyes are red?

eye pain or redness, swelling around your eyes; sudden vision problems; seeing flashes of light or "floaters" in your vision, seeing halos around lights; increased sensitivity of your eyes to light; chest pain; sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body; or. sudden severe headache, confusion, problems with speech or balance. ...

Can you take eylea if you are allergic to aflibercept?

Warnings. You should not use Eylea if you are allergic to aflibercept, or if you have swelling inside your eyes, or any type of infection (bacterial, fungal, viral) in or around your eyes.

What is eylea injection?

Eylea comes as a solution inside prefilled syringes and single-use vials. You’ll receive Eylea as an intravitreal injection, which is an injection into your eye. This drug is given by healthcare providers.

Can eylea cause blurry vision?

After receiving an Eylea injection, you can have blurry vision. This side effect may disappear after a while. But, blurry vision can also be a symptom of endophthalmitis, which is a possible serious side effect of Eylea.

Is eylea harmful to breast milk?

It’s not known whether Eylea is harmful if used during pregnancy. It’s also unknown if Eylea passes into breast milk and whether it would be harmful for a breastfed child.

Can you get a stroke from an eylea injection?

After receiving an Eylea injection, you may be at risk for blood clots. Blood clots can sometimes cause stroke , heart attack, or a lack of blood flow to certain areas of the body.

How often should I take eylea?

The recommended dose for EYLEA is 2 mg (0.05 mL or 50 microliters) administered by intravitreal injection every 4 weeks (approximately every 28 days, monthly) for the first 12 weeks (3 months), followed by 2 mg (0.05 mL) via intravitreal injection once every 8 weeks (2 months). Although EYLEA may be dosed as frequently as 2 mg every 4 weeks (approximately every 25 days, monthly), additional efficacy was not demonstrated in most patients when EYLEA was dosed every 4 weeks compared to every 8 weeks [ see Clinical Studies (14.1) ]. Some patients may need every 4 week (monthly) dosing after the first 12 weeks (3 months). Although not as effective as the recommended every 8 week dosing regimen, patients may also be treated with one dose every 12 weeks after one year of effective therapy. Patients should be assessed regularly.

What should I do if I have a contralateral eye?

If the contralateral eye requires treatment, a new sterile, pre-filled syringe or vial should be used and the sterile field, syringe, gloves, drapes, eyelid speculum, filter, and injection needles should be changed before EYLEA is administered to the other eye. After injection, any unused product must be discarded.

Is the Eylea syringe sterile?

The EYLEA pre-filled glass syringe is sterile and for single use only. It should be inspected visually prior to administration. Do not use if particulates, cloudiness, or discoloration are visible, or if the package is open or damaged. The appearance of the syringe cap on the pre-filled syringe may vary (for example, color and design). Do not use if any part of the pre-filled syringe is damaged or if the syringe cap is detached from the Luer lock.

How does an ophthalmologist clean your eye?

During an outpatient procedure, your ophthalmologist first numbs the eye to block pain. Then your doctor injects the Eylea directly into your eye. Before the procedure, your ophthalmologist will clean your eye to prevent infection and numb your eye with medicine.

What is the chemical that blocks VEGF?

Abnormal blood vessels need a body chemical called VEGF to grow. Eylea blocks VEGF, slowing the growth of blood vessels in the eye. Drugs that block the trouble-causing VEGF are called anti-VEGF drugs.

What is the drug that causes vision loss?

Those blood vessels can leak and affect vision, causing vision loss from wet AMD and diabetic eye disease. Avastin (bevacizumab) is another drug like Eylea. Avastin was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat different types of cancer.

Why is eylea injected into the eye?

It is injected into the eye to help slow vision loss from these and certain other diseases. Eylea is the brand name for the drug, which is called aflibercept. It blocks the growth and leaking of fluid from abnormal blood vessels in the back of the eye.

Is Avastin safe for eyes?

The FDA allows “off label” drug use if doctors are well informed about the product and studies prove the drug is helpful. Many studies have shown Avastin as safe and effective for eye disease since it was first used in 2005. Research shows that Eylea and Avastin are both effective in slowing vision loss.

Can Eylea cause eye pain?

Any eye injection, including Eylea, may cause these problems, which are very rare: being extra sensitive to light. eye pain. swelling inside the eye. eye infection. detached retina (where the retina lifts up from the back of the eye) cataracts (clouding of the eye’s normally clear lens)

How long does it take for Eylea to improve vision?

People who participated in clinical trials of Eylea (aflibercept) usually had improvements in their vision, or no further loss of vision, soon after starting the drug -- in most cases within four weeks of receiving the first injection.

Does Eylea help with vision loss?

Of the people who got the recommended dose of Eylea for a year, 94% had no significant further loss of vision and 31% had some improvement in their vision. Eylea is used to treat neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration, a condition that affects the ability to see straight ahead. Show More.

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How It Works

  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is a naturally-occurring protein in the body, and its normal role is to trigger formation of new blood vessels, supporting the growth of the body’s tissues and organs. However, in certain diseases, such as wet age-related macular degeneration…
See more on macular.org

How It’S Better

  • “The approval of Eylea offers a much needed new treatment option for patients with wet AMD,” said the chair of the steering committee for the phase 3 trial, Jeffrey Heier, M.D., also a clinical ophthalmologist and retinal specialist at Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston and Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Tufts School of Medicine. “Eylea offers the potential of achievin…
See more on macular.org

Safety of Eylea

  • Eylea is not recommended for patients with ocular or periocular (around the eye) infections, active intraocular inflammation, or known hypersensitivity to aflibercept or to any of the excipients in Eylea. Intravitreal injections, including those with Eylea, have been associated with endophthalmitis (inflammation of tissues with in the eye) and retinal detachments. Patients sho…
See more on macular.org

Results and Experiences with Eylea

  • Joe Peloso avoided losing his eyesight while doing his part for science. The Naples retiree is proud that he was among 30 Southwest Florida residents who participated in a local clinical trial through Retina Health Centers. “When I was in the trial, it curbed my macular degeneration,” the 74-year old said. “At the time, it basically stopped it in its tracks.” “This is a monumental step for…
See more on macular.org

Other Options

  • Aside from other variants of anti-VEGF injections, there are other treatments to explore, as well as lifestyle changes, sight tracking, and other ways to work with your doctor to ensure the best possible outcome for you. Here are some other sections of our site you might find helpful: • KeepSight Journal – We provide a free KeepSight journal to anyone suffering from AMD. This wil…
See more on macular.org

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