Our eyes are the windows to our world. But if they become clouded due to blurred vision. Diabetic retinopathy, macular edema, and retinal vein occlusion can drastically affect your life. Daily tasks like reading, driving, and recognizing faces can become frustrating and challenging.

Fortunately, advancements in ophthalmology offer a revolutionary treatment. Eylea can protect your vision and preserve the clarity of your world. New options always provoke questions. Patients frequently ask: “How does Eylea treatment work” and “How long does it last in our bodies? Keep reading to find out the answers.

What Is Eylea?

Eylea is an anti-VEGF drug primarily used to treat several serious eye conditions that can lead to vision loss. It is developed and manufactured by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, a leading biotechnology company based in the United States.

The active drug, aflibercept, is a recombinant fusion protein. It works by inhibiting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and placental growth factor (PIGF). They are involved in the formation of abnormal blood vessels and leakage that contribute to eye diseases.

Eylea received approval from the FDA in November 2011. It has since become a widely used treatment for various retinal diseases.

Patients treated for visual acuity may prefer Eylea as a less invasive option compared to laser treatment.

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How Does Eylea Work?

Anti-VEGF therapies like Eylea (aflibercept) work by blocking the action of VEGF, thereby reducing the growth of these abnormal blood vessels and the associated fluid leakage.

Eylea helps prevent more damage to your eyes. It keeps your vessels healthy and stops fluid leaks that can blur vision. Imagine your eye is like a garden. Blood vessels are likely tiny water hoses that bring food and water to keep everything healthy. But sometimes, a signal goes wonky, and these hoses grow too much, creating a big mess. This can cause blurry vision, like looking through a dirty window.

Eylea helps in your eye garden. It acts like a sponge, soaking up the bad signal that tells the hoses (blood vessels) to grow too much. With less of that signal, the hoses calm down and stop making a mess. This helps keep the important part of your eye (the macula, like the flower in the garden) healthy and lets you see clearly again.

The macula is a part of the retina responsible for color, detail, and central vision. It is like the screen at the back of your eye, with tons of special cells called photoreceptors. The macula is small, about 5 millimeters across, but essential for the vision quality.

What Is Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor?

VEGF is a protein that plays a critical role in the formation of new blood vessels. It’s essential for normal physiological processes such as wound healing and the formation of blood vessels during embryonic development.

However, VEGF can contribute to the growth of abnormal blood vessels in the retina in certain pathological conditions, such as eye diseases like diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

How Often Do You Need Eylea Injections?

Unlike medications taken orally that quickly enter your bloodstream, Eylea works differently. It comes in a single strength (2 mg/0.05mL), but the frequency of injections can differ based on the medical conditions.

Eylea treatment often starts with a series of injections spaced closely together, followed by less frequent injections as the condition stabilizes.

• Initial phase: one Eylea injection every month for the first 12 weeks of treatment.
• Maintenance phase: once every 2 months. Some patients may continue with eye injections every 4 weeks if their doctor feels it’s necessary.
• Extended maintenance: after one year, some patients may move to intravitreal injections every 3 months.

Eylea begins to show effects within 3 months, with some patients noticing improvements as early as 1 month. However, certain conditions might require up to six months to demonstrate significant changes.

How Long Does an Eylea Injection Last?

The duration of an Eylea injection’s effectiveness varies. Typically, Eylea lasts longer than drops or oral medicine, so you don’t need as many shots.

After intravitreal injections, Eylea primarily stays within the vitreous humor, where it exerts its therapeutic effects. The active drug, aflibercept, has a systemic half-life (5.5 days). It is cleared from the bloodstream relatively quickly. However, its localized presence can last for about 50 days. Regular injections are typically required to maintain therapeutic benefits.

Who Is A Good Candidate for Eylea?

An eye doctor, or ophthalmologist, may prescribe Eylea to treat:

• diabetic retinopathy (DR);
• diabetic macular oedema (DME);
• wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD);
• central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO);
• branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO);
• retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

While Eylea can be a great solution for someone, it’s not suitable for everyone. A doctor will consider your health history and the severity of the condition.

Certain conditions and factors might make Eylea unsuitable for some patients:

• allergic reactions to Eylea or its components;
• infections in or around the eye;
• glaucoma;
• recent stroke and heart attack;
• cardiovascular disease.

Pregnant or breastfeeding women should consult their healthcare provider, as the effects of Eylea on unborn babies or nursing infants are not well studied.

Always seek guidance from healthcare professionals to assess your suitability for Eylea treatments.

How Is Eylea Injection Done?

The main steps of the procedure:

Preparation: They may dilate your pupils using eye drops to get a better view of the back of your eye. The area around your eyes will be cleaned with an antiseptic solution to prevent infection. Anesthetic drops are used to numb the surface of your eye, ensuring minimal discomfort during the injection.

An eye speculum, a small device, may hold your eye open during the procedure. You will be asked to look in a specific direction to help your doctor access the injection site easily.

Injections: Eylea is administered through an intravitreal injection. This means a qualified eye doctor injects it directly into the vitreous cavity of your eye. You might feel slight pressure or a brief pinch, but it should not be painful due to the numbing drops. This targeted delivery allows the medication to work directly at the source of the problem.

Post-procedure: Your doctor may apply antibiotic drops to prevent infection after the injection. You might be given an eye shield (dark glasses) to protect your eyes for a short period.

What Benefits Can Eylea Provide?

Eylea shots are biologic drugs. There are no available biosimilar forms now. This medicine is made by one manufacturer, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, ensuring consistent quality and reliability in every dose.

Patients and healthcare providers can trust that each injection will deliver the same therapeutic effect. This reduces the risk of variability that can sometimes occur with biosimilars.

Eylea improves central vision by targeting abnormal blood vessels in the eye. Clinical trials have shown that patients treated with Eylea experience significant improvements in visual activity. Unlike Eylea, which targets the underlying cause of macular edema, other medications may only address the symptoms.

These eye injections help manage diabetic retinopathy by inhibiting the growth of abnormal vessels. They effectively treat macular edema by reducing swelling and fluid release in the retina.

As a VEGF-blocker drug, Eylea shows the progression of macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness.

Can Eylea Treatment Improve Your Vision?

Early intervention with Eylea prevents further damage to the macula. It helps safeguard your vision by controlling fluid buildup and abnormal blood vessel growth. This is essential for daily activities like reading, driving, and recognizing faces.

Clinical studies have shown that Eylea can improve vision in some patients, particularly those experiencing blurry vision or distorted images due to macular edema. The degree of vision acuity can vary depending on the severity of the condition and individual response to the treatment.

Eylea may not restore vision to its original state, especially if vision loss has already occurred. However, it can significantly slow down the progression of vision degeneration.

What Are the Possible Side Effects?

Like other treatments, Eylea can potentially cause side effects. Note that everyone experiences the same reactions, and their severity may vary. Let’s overview.

The most frequent

• blurred vision;
• eye irritation;
• increased eye pressure;
• eye redness;
• eye pain;
• floaters (small spots or squiggly lines).

Allergic reaction

A mild allergic reaction can be at the injection site, such as redness or irritation. A severe allergic reaction can include these symptoms: swelling of the face, tongue, or throat, difficulty breathing, or severe itching. Contact medical emergency promptly if these adverse reactions occur.

Eye complications

There have been reports following Eylea about complications in the eye.

• macular edema — swelling of the central part of the retina.
• retinal detachment — retina pulls away from its normal position.
• endophthalmitis — eye infection.

They are rare side effects. However, patients should be aware of these risks.

Systematic effects

Some patients may experience high blood pressure during or after treatment. There is a potential risk of blood clots, although this risk is considered low and specific to certain individuals with predisposing factors.

Other considerations

Regular monitoring of eye cells and overall eye health is crucial during treatment. Eylea cure may interact with other medications. It would be best if you inform your healthcare provider about all medicines you are taking to prevent adverse drug interactions.

Is Eylea Safe for Long-Term Use?

Many eye diseases requiring Eylea are chronic. It is often used as a long-term management tool to control symptoms and prevent further vision loss. As with any long-term medication, regular eye exams are important to assess the ongoing benefits and potential side effects of Eylea. Openly communicate with your doctor to determine progress and form a tailored treatment plan.

The Summary

Eylea doesn’t stay in your system permanently. It’s administered directly into the eye and works locally to reduce fluid buildup and abnormal blood vessel growth. The effects of Eylea last for several weeks. Treatment typically involves regular injections to maintain its benefits. The exact treatment schedule depends on the individual and the specific eye condition.