Eylea is a brand-name prescription medication that contains the active drug aflibercept. It belongs to a class of drugs called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors. Eylea is a biologic drug, and it’s not available in biosimilar form.*
This medication is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat the following conditions in adults:
- wet age-related macular degeneration
- macular edema following retinal vein occlusion
- diabetic retinopathy
- diabetic macular edema
In this article, you’ll learn about Eylea’s injection dosage and how it’s administered. For a comprehensive overview of Eylea, view this article.
* A biosimilar medication is a drug similar to a brand-name biologic drug (the parent drug).
Finding a healthcare professional
If you’re interested in using Eylea, search here to find a doctor who might prescribe it.
This article describes typical recommended dosages for Eylea. These dosages are provided by the drug’s manufacturer.
Always follow the dosage of Eylea that your doctor prescribes.
This section describes commonly recommended dosages of Eylea.
Your doctor will recommend the dosage that’s best for your condition.
Eylea’s forms and strength
Eylea comes as a liquid solution inside single-dose syringes and vials. The solution in both forms is a strength of 2 milligrams per 0.05 milliliters (2 mg/0.05 mL).
An ophthalmologist administers the solution by intravitreal injection into the white of your eye. To learn about this procedure, see “Eylea: How it’s administered.”
Typical recommended dosages
Usually, doctors will prescribe a low Eylea dosage at the start of treatment. Over time, they’ll adjust the dosage if needed. Ultimately, they’ll prescribe the smallest dosage that gives the desired effect.
Adult’s dosage
| Condition | Dose | Frequency |
| wet age-related macular degeneration | 2 mg/0.05 mL | • once every 4 weeks for the first 12 weeks • then once every 8 weeks |
| macular edema following retinal vein occlusion | 2 mg/0.05 mL | • once every 4 weeks |
| diabetic retinopathy | 2 mg/0.05 mL | • once every 4 weeks for the first five injections • then once every 8 weeks |
| diabetic macular edema | 2 mg/0.05 mL | • once every 4 weeks for the first five injections • then once every 8 weeks |
Length of treatment
Doctors typically prescribe Eylea as a long-term treatment. You’ll likely use it long term if you both feel it’s safe and effective for your condition.
The following common questions relate to Eylea’s dosage.
What is considered a high dose of Eylea?
The only recommended dose of Eylea is 2 milligrams per 0.05 milliliters (2 mg/0.05 mL). However, the dose frequency varies with the condition being treated and its severity.
In the drug’s clinical studies, the drug was dosed as often as every 4 weeks. However, this was effective only for treating macular edema following retinal vein occlusion. For other conditions, dosing every 4 weeks wasn’t more effective than dosing every 8 weeks or 12 weeks.
Ask your doctor if you have specific questions about Eylea doses.
Does Eylea have a dose schedule? How often is Eylea administered?
Yes, Eylea has a schedule showing doses and frequency of injections. See the “Eylea: Dosage” section above for full information.
The frequency of administration varies with the condition Eylea is treating.
If you have more questions, such as how long Eylea lasts after each injection, ask your doctor.
Your doctor will consider some factors when prescribing your Eylea dosage. These include the condition Eylea will treat and its severity.
Recommended adjustments in dosage
After assessing your condition, its severity, and other factors, your doctor may adjust your dosage.
Eylea comes as a liquid solution in vials or syringes. Your ophthalmologist gives you the solution by intravitreal injection.
To prepare for the injection, the ophthalmologist will wash your eye with a solution. They’ll also apply an antiseptic to help prevent infection. Using a local anesthetic, they’ll numb your eye to minimize your discomfort during the injection.
The ophthalmologist will inject Eylea into the white of your eye. They’ll do this using a very thin, small needle.
If you miss an appointment to receive an Eylea dose, call your ophthalmologist’s office right away. They can help reschedule your appointment as soon as possible.
View these medication reminder options to help avoid missing doses. You could also set an alarm or download a reminder app on your phone.
Talk with your doctor for more details about Eylea’s dosage. The dosages described in this article are typical dosages from Eylea’s manufacturer.
In addition to discussing Eylea with your doctor, you may find the following articles helpful in learning more.
- Overview of Eylea. For comprehensive details on Eylea, see this article.
- Drug comparison. To learn how Eylea compares with Avastin, read this article.
- Information on side effects. To learn about possible side effects of Eylea, view this article.
- Details about interactions. For information about possible interactions with Eylea, view this article.
- Details about Eylea’s uses. To learn more about the conditions Eylea treats, see these articles:
- wet age-related macular degeneration
- macular edema following retinal vein occlusion
- diabetic retinopathy
- diabetic macular edema
Disclaimer: Healthgrades has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
