What Is Aflibercept Used For?

A healthcare provider may prescribe aflibercept for treating neovascular macular degeneration, an age-related eye disease that causes vision loss. This eye medicine is approved for use in adults only, and works by preventing the growth of abnormal blood vessels in the back of the eye that can leak and cause macular damage. Possible "off-label" uses of aflibercept may include treating cancer.

An Overview of Uses for Aflibercept

Aflibercept (Eylea™) is a prescription medication approved to treat wet macular degeneration (also known as neovascular macular degeneration). It is injected directly into the eye.
 
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD, or just macular degeneration) is a common eye disease associated with aging. It blurs the sharp, central vision you need for "straight-ahead" activities, such as reading or driving (see Macular Degeneration and Driving).
 
The causes of macular degeneration are unknown. However, there are certain risk factors, such as smoking and obesity, which increase the likelihood of developing it. Macular degeneration may be genetic to some extent (see Macular Degeneration Genetics).
 
If there is a significant loss of certain light-sensing cells in the macula, people may see a small blind spot in the middle of their field of vision. Over time, the blurred spot may get bigger and darker, taking up more of your central vision. You may have difficulty reading or recognizing faces until they are very close to you.
 
There are two types of macular degeneration. About 90 percent of people with the condition have what's known as the "dry" type, and the remaining 10 percent have the "wet" type. However, wet macular degeneration accounts for 90 percent of all blindness from the disease.
 
In wet macular degeneration, new blood vessels grow behind the macula. Because these new blood vessels tend to be quite fragile, they will often leak blood and fluid under the macula. This causes rapid damage to the macula, which can lead to the loss of central vision in a short period. Wet macular degeneration symptoms include straight lines appearing crooked and a blind spot in the center of your vision.
 
With this condition, loss of central vision can occur quickly. Wet macular degeneration is a more advanced form of the disease, and is more severe than dry macular degeneration.
 
 
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD
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