What is Eylea?

Eylea injections help slow or stop vision loss related to certain eye conditions by “drying the retina.” It works by reducing the fluid leaking into the macula. These conditions include diabetic retinopathy, macular edema and wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

AMD is a leading cause of vision loss in people 60 and older. There is no cure for wet AMD, but Eylea is a proven effective treatment.

Eylea is the brand name for the generic medication aflibercept. It is an FDA-approved prescription medicine administered by an ophthalmologist by injection into the eye. 

Patients treated with Eylea may note improvements in their vision within three months. The medication has been clinically proven to help improve and maintain vision in patients with wet AMD for up to four years when treatment is continued.

How does Eylea work?

Eylea works by blocking a chemical called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) that stimulates the growth of blood vessels.

High levels of VEGF in the eye can cause the growth of leaky, abnormal blood vessels which can swell and leak fluid into the macula, the small central part of the retina responsible for how clearly we see. This can lead to scarring of the macula resulting in decreased and distorted central vision.

Eylea is an anti-VEGF treatment. By blocking VEGF, Eylea helps to reduce the fluid leaking into the macula and the formation of new blood vessels. It slows the progression of wet AMD and can save and even improve vision.