By Counterforce Health Team —

Shining a Light on Vision: Understanding the Medication Eylea

Vision loss due to certain diseases of the retina can be devastating, but advancements in medical treatments offer hope. One such treatment, which has become a cornerstone in ophthalmology, is the medication Eylea (aflibercept).

If you or a loved one are facing conditions like wet Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) or diabetic eye disease, you may have heard of this powerful drug. Here's a look at what Eylea is, how it works, and what to expect from treatment.

What is Eylea?

Eylea is a prescription medicine administered by a retina specialist as an intravitreal injection—meaning it's delivered directly into the eye. Its active ingredient, aflibercept, belongs to a class of drugs known as anti-VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) agents.

The Science Behind the Sight: How Eylea Works

The conditions Eylea treats are often driven by an overabundance of a natural body protein called VEGF. When present in excess in the eye, VEGF can trigger two main problems:

  1. Abnormal Blood Vessel Growth (Neovascularization): VEGF promotes the growth of new, often fragile and leaky, blood vessels in the retina or under the macula (the part of the retina responsible for sharp central vision).
  2. Vascular Leakage: VEGF increases the permeability of blood vessels, causing fluid to leak into the macula, leading to swelling (edema) and distorted vision.

Eylea is engineered to act as a "decoy receptor" for VEGF. It binds to and neutralizes not only VEGF-A but also another related growth factor, Placental Growth Factor (PlGF), essentially trapping them and preventing them from activating the receptors that cause blood vessel growth and leakage. By blocking these growth factors, Eylea helps to:

  • Reduce fluid leakage and swelling in the macula.
  • Slow or stop the growth of abnormal blood vessels.

This action helps to protect central vision from further damage.

Conditions Treated by Eylea

Eylea is approved for treating several serious eye conditions, including:

  • Neovascular (Wet) Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD): The leading cause of severe, irreversible vision loss in older adults in developed countries.
  • Diabetic Macular Edema (DME): Swelling of the macula caused by leaking blood vessels in people with diabetes.
  • Macular Edema following Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO): Swelling of the macula due to a blockage in a vein draining blood from the retina.
  • Diabetic Retinopathy (DR): An eye disease affecting people with diabetes that damages the blood vessels of the retina.
  • Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP): An eye disease in premature babies that can lead to vision loss.

What to Expect During Treatment

Eylea is given as a series of injections into the eye, performed in a clinical setting by your ophthalmologist or retina specialist.

  1. Preparation: Before the procedure, your doctor will clean your eye to prevent infection and use numbing drops and/or a local anesthetic to minimize discomfort.
  2. The Injection: The medication is injected with a very fine needle into the vitreous (the gel-like substance that fills the eye). The procedure is quick, often lasting only a few moments.
  3. Post-Procedure: You may be monitored briefly afterward. Patients usually receive an initial phase of more frequent injections (often monthly), followed by less frequent maintenance injections based on their specific condition and response to treatment.

Important Safety Considerations

While Eylea is a highly effective treatment, it is important to be aware of potential side effects and risks, which your doctor will discuss with you.

Common side effects are often temporary and localized to the eye, such as:

  • Temporary blurry vision
  • Eye pain or discomfort
  • Redness in the eye (from the injection)
  • Eye floaters
  • Increased pressure in the eye

Rare, but serious, side effects can include:

  • Eye infection (Endophthalmitis)
  • Retinal detachment or tear
  • Increased intraocular pressure (glaucoma)
  • Cataract formation
  • Risk of blood clots that could lead to heart attack or stroke (this is very rare).

It is crucial to contact your doctor immediately if you experience severe eye pain, worsening eye redness, increased sensitivity to light, or a sudden, noticeable change in vision (such as blurry vision, flashes of light, or an increase in floaters) after your injection.

A Path to Preserving Vision

Eylea represents a significant breakthrough in the management of chronic retinal diseases. While the prospect of an eye injection may be daunting, this treatment has saved or preserved the vision of millions of patients worldwide, allowing them to maintain their independence and quality of life. Regular communication with your retina specialist is the best way to determine if Eylea is the right choice for your vision health.