What is Aflibercept Injection used for?
Last updated September 7, 2026.
Aflibercept injection is an anti-VEGF medicine given into the eye to treat retinal conditions in which abnormal blood vessels leak and cause swelling, including wet age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema. It is also approved for macular edema following retinal vein occlusion and for diabetic retinopathy, and a preterm infant form is used for retinopathy of prematurity. A retina specialist gives the shot in a clinic after numbing drops and antiseptic, and the injection itself takes seconds. Most people start with a dose every 4 to 8 weeks, then move to longer intervals once scans show the swelling is controlled. Aflibercept slows or stabilizes vision loss and can improve vision for some people, but it does not cure the underlying condition, so skipped visits often let fluid return. Bring your imaging history and diabetes or blood pressure numbers to each visit, since those drive how well the injections work.
What to do
- Know which aflibercept you mean: The eye injection (Eylea) is different from ziv-aflibercept (Zaltrap), an intravenous cancer medicine, so check the brand name on your paperwork.
- Keep every appointment: Swelling and leakage usually come back if injections stop, so reschedule promptly instead of skipping a missed visit.
- Plan the day around the visit: Bring sunglasses and arrange a ride home, since drops blur your vision and make eyes light sensitive for several hours.
- Report warning signs fast: Eye pain, worsening redness, sensitivity to light, or sudden vision changes after an injection need same-day evaluation for infection or pressure problems.
- Treat the underlying cause: If you have diabetes, steady blood sugar and blood pressure control reduces how much swelling comes back between injections.
- Ask about your schedule: Ask your retina specialist how often you need scans and whether your interval can be extended based on your last results.
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