Key takeaways

  • Izervay is an eye injection used to treat the advanced form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), called geographic atrophy.
  • Common side effects of Izervay include a brief increase in eye pressure, a red spot due to bleeding, and blurry vision.
  • Possible serious side effects include endophthalmitis (severe eye inflammation) and retinal detachment. Izervay also comes with an increased risk of wet AMD.

Some people may experience mild to serious side effects during Izervay (avacincaptad pegol) treatment. Examples of the drug’s commonly reported side effects include:

  • blurry vision
  • a brief increase in pressure in the eye
  • a red spot on the white of the eye due to bleeding on the eye’s surface
  • increased risk of wet AMD

To learn more about increased risk of wet AMD, see the “Side effects explained” section later in this article.

Mild side effects have been reported with Izervay. These include:

  • eye pain
  • a red spot on the white of the eye due to bleeding on the eye’s surface
  • blurry vision
  • eye floaters (spots or wiggly lines that move in your vision)
  • blepharitis (eyelid inflammation)
  • mild allergic reaction

While an allergic reaction is possible after receiving Izervay, this side effect wasn’t reported in studies. To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section later in this article.

In most cases, these side effects should be temporary. And some may be easily managed. But if you have symptoms that are ongoing or bothersome, talk with your doctor. And do not stop Izervay treatment unless your doctor recommends it.

Izervay may cause mild side effects other than those listed here. See the drug’s prescribing information for details.

Serious side effects have been reported with Izervay. These include:

To learn more about some of these side effects, see the “Side effects explained” section later in this article.

If you develop serious side effects during Izervay treatment, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medication safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while taking Izervay and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

* While an allergic reaction is possible after receiving Izervay, this side effect wasn’t reported in studies.

Get answers to some frequently asked questions about Izervay’s side effects.

How do side effects of Izervay compare with those of Syfovre?

Izervay and Syfovre (pegcetacoplan) are both treatments for late stage AMD. They belong to the same group of drugs and are both given as an injection into the eye. These drugs can cause some similar and some different side effects.

For example, both drugs have a risk of endophthalmitis, retinal detachment, and wet AMD.

Syfovre can also cause various types of eye inflammation, such as keratitis, uveitis, and iritis. And allergic reaction (including severe allergic reaction) was reported with Syfovre. But these side effects weren’t reported in studies of Izervay.

To learn more about how Izervay and Syfovre compare, talk with your doctor.

Does Izervay cause long-term side effects?

It’s possible. Long-term side effects include those that may start at any time during treatment with a drug, even if you’ve received it for a long time. They also include side effects that may not go away, even after you stop treatment with the drug.

An example of a long-term side effect reported in Izervay’s studies is an increased risk of wet AMD. Izervay can also cause endophthalmitis and retinal detachment, both of which can cause long-term vision loss if not treated quickly. (To learn more about these side effects, see the “Side effects explained” section.)

Talk with your doctor to learn more about possible side effects of Izervay and how long they may last.

How safe is Izervay?

Izervay is considered a safe and effective treatment option for geographic atrophy. It’s important to note that the drug comes with some risks, such as serious side effects that can lead to vision loss. These side effects weren’t common in studies, but be sure to discuss this with your doctor. (To learn more, see the “Side effects explained” section.)

Learn more about some of the side effects Izervay may cause.

Endophthalmitis and retinal detachment

Endophthalmitis and retinal detachment are possible risks with all eye injections, including Izervay. It’s not known how often these side effects occurred in the drug’s studies, but they weren’t common.

Endophthalmitis is severe inflammation inside your eye caused by an infection. Endophthalmitis may cause symptoms such as:

With retinal detachment, your retina pulls away from the back of your eye. Retinal detachment may cause symptoms such as:

  • blurry vision
  • suddenly seeing lots of floaters (spots or wiggly lines that move in your vision)
  • seeing sudden flashes of light
  • partial shadowing of your vision

If not treated quickly, endophthalmitis and retinal detachment can cause long-term vision loss.

What might help

To help reduce the risk of endophthalmitis, your doctor will likely administer antimicrobial eye drops into your eyes before giving you your Izervay injection.

If you have symptoms of endophthalmitis or retinal detachment after receiving an Izervay injection, contact your doctor right away. If you have an infection, your doctor will likely prescribe medication to treat it. If you have a detached retina, you’ll likely need eye surgery to fix it.

Increased risk of wet AMD

Wet AMD was a common side effect reported in studies of Izervay.

Izervay is prescribed to treat the late stage of dry AMD. Dry AMD is caused by age-related wearing down of the macula. (The macula is a small area in the center of your retina that allows you to see things directly in front of you.)

When used for late stage dry AMD, Izervay can increase your risk of developing wet AMD. With wet AMD, leaky blood vessels grow under the macula. These blood vessels leak fluid that can damage the macula.

Symptoms of late stage dry AMD and wet AMD are the same. But wet AMD can cause faster and more severe vision loss than dry AMD.

Symptoms of wet AMD can include:

  • blurry central vision
  • blank spots in your vision
  • difficulty seeing at night or in dim light
  • colors seeming less vivid than usual
  • seeing straight lines as wavy or crooked

Learn more about dry versus wet AMD.

What might help

During Izervay treatment, your doctor will regularly examine your eyes to monitor your condition and check for wet AMD. If your AMD symptoms get worse while receiving Izervay injections, tell your doctor right away.

If you develop wet AMD, your doctor may prescribe treatments to reduce the growth of abnormal blood vessels in your eyes. This can help prevent further vision loss.

Allergic reaction

For some people, Izervay can cause an allergic reaction. In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should keep taking Izervay.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Izervay, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Here is important information you should consider before starting Izervay treatment.

Warnings

Izervay can sometimes cause harmful effects in people with certain conditions. This is known as a drug-condition interaction. Other factors may also affect whether Izervay is a good treatment option for you.

Talk with your doctor about your health history before starting Izervay. Be sure to tell them if any of the following factors apply to you:

  • infection in or around your eye
  • inflammation (swelling) inside your eye
  • past allergic reaction to Izervay or any of its ingredients
  • pregnancy or breastfeeding (see the following information)

Pregnancy and breastfeeding with Izervay

It’s not known whether it’s safe to receive Izervay injections during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. There is limited information about this drug’s safety during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning either, talk with your doctor before starting Izervay.

Disclaimer: Healthline 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.