Eye Health A-Z
`
`Anti-VEGF Treatments
`
`Anti-VEGF Treatments
`
`What Is Avastin?
`
`What Is Lucentis?
`
`What Is Eylea?
`
`What Is Avastin?
`
`Leer en Español: ¿Qué es Avastin?
`
`By David Turbert
`Reviewed By Ninel Z Gregori MD
`Mar. 08, 2022
`Avastin is a drug used to treat wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It is also used to treat
`diabetic eye disease and other problems of the retina. It is injected into the eye to help slow vision
`loss from these diseases.
`
`Avastin is the brand name for the drug, which is called bevacizumab. It blocks the growth and leaking
`of fluid from abnormal blood vessels in the back of the eye. Those blood vessels can leak and affect
`vision, causing vision loss from wet AMD and diabetic eye disease.
`
`Avastin was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat different types of
`cancer. Its use to treat eye disease is considered an “off-label” use. 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.
`
`Lucentis® (ranibizumab) and Eylea® (aflibercept) are other drugs like Avastin. Research shows each
`of these drugs are effective in slowing vision loss.
`
`How does Avastin work?
`Abnormal blood vessels need a body chemical called VEGF to grow. Avastin blocks VEGF, slowing
`the growth of blood vessels in the eye. Drugs that block the trouble-causing VEGF are called anti-
`VEGF drugs.
`
`What conditions are treated with Avastin?
`Avastin is used to treat the following eye problems:
`
`wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
`swelling of the retina, called macular edema
`diabetic retinopathy
`retinal vein occlusion
`
`What happens during Avastin treatment?
`During an outpatient procedure, your ophthalmologist first numbs the eye to block pain. Then your
`doctor injects the Avastin directly into your eye.
`
`Before the procedure, your ophthalmologist will clean your eye to prevent infection and numb your
`eye with medicine. A very thin needle is passed through the white part of your eye and the drug is
`injected. Usually you do not see the needle itself. You may need to continue having these injections
`over many months.
`
`Sometimes ophthalmologists will combine Avastin treatment with other treatments for the best
`chance of saving your vision.
`
`Regeneron Exhibit 1184.001
`Regeneron v. Novartis
`IPR2021-00816
`
`

`

`What are the risks of Avastin treatment?
`Every treatment can have side effects. It is important to understand the benefits and risks of any
`treatment you might have.
`
`Common side effects include:
`
`eye redness
`feeling like something is in your eye
`dry or itchy eyes
`eye discomfort
`temporary blurry vision
`floaters
`
`Any eye injection, including Avastin, 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)
`
`Call your ophthalmologist right away if you have any of these problems within a few days of Avastin
`treatment.
`
`If you have any questions about your eyes or your vision, be sure to ask. Your ophthalmologist is
`committed to protecting your sight.
`
`Previous
`Anti-VEGF Treatments
`
`Next
`What Is Lucentis?
`
`Related
`
`Macular Degeneration and Cataract Surgery: Are They
`Compatible?
`MAR 23, 2022
`
`What Is Optical Coherence Tomography?
`MAR 08, 2022
`
`What Are Drusen?
`MAR 08, 2022
`
`What Is Macular Degeneration?
`FEB 10, 2022
`
`Regeneron Exhibit 1184.002
`Regeneron v. Novartis
`IPR2021-00816
`
`

`

`The First Alternative to a Monthly Injection for Wet
`AMD
`JAN 04, 2022
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`Regeneron v. Novartis
`IPR2021-00816
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`ALSO OF INTEREST
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`Lucentis
`Eye Injections
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`Regeneron Exhibit 1184.004
`Regeneron v. Novartis
`IPR2021-00816
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