Syfovre can cause side effects that range from mild to serious. Examples include eye discomfort, eye pain, and floaters.

Syfovre is prescribed to treat geographic atrophy, which is the late or advanced stage of AMD. The active ingredient in Syfovre is pegcetacoplan. The drug comes as a solution that’s injected into the eye.

Keep reading to learn about the common, mild, and serious side effects that Syfovre can cause. For a general overview of the drug, including details about its uses, see this Syfovre article.

Some people may experience mild to serious side effects during their Syfovre treatment. Examples of the drug’s commonly reported side effects include:

These are only a few of the side effects possible with Syfovre. Not everyone experiences side effects. Continue reading to learn more.

Mild side effects of Syfovre can include:

  • sensation of foreign body or unusual feeling in the eye
  • broken blood vessels in the white of the eye
  • floaters (appearance of specks, dots, fibers, or cobwebs in your vision)
  • eye discomfort or pain
  • cloudiness of the capsule holding the eye lens (similar to a cataract)
  • mild allergic reaction (see “Side effects explained” for details)

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

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

Serious side effects of Syfovre can include:

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

If you develop serious side effects while using Syfovre, 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 receiving Syfovre treatment and you want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

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

How do Syfovre and Izervay’s side effects compare?

Izervay (avacincaptad pegol) and Syfovre are both injections given into the eye to treat geographic atrophy. Many of their possible side effects are the same. This includes mild side effects such as blurry vision or eye pain, and serious side effects such as increased risk of wet AMD and retinal detachment.

The most common side effects reported in studies varied a bit between Izervay and Syfovre. Broken blood vessels in the white of the eye and wet AMD were two of the more common side effects of both drugs, and:

  • Syfovre’s other more common side effects included eye discomfort or pain and floaters.
  • Izervay’s other more common side effects included blurry vision and a brief increase in pressure in the eye.

Your doctor can determine which of these drugs is the best option for your condition.

Is there a way to lower my risk of developing wet age-related macular degeneration while using Syfovre?

Yes, there is. Your doctor may consider treatment options, depending on the severity of geographic atrophy in your eye. Syfovre studies showed that using Syfovre every other month instead of monthly may reduce the risk of developing wet AMD. But reducing the frequency of injections can reduce Syfovre’s effectiveness.

If you already have wet AMD in one eye, your risk of developing wet AMD in the other eye with Syfovre use is greater. In this case, your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of using Syfovre.

Talk with your doctor before starting Syfovre treatment if you have concerns about developing wet AMD.

How long will increased eye pressure last after a Syfovre injection?

A temporary increase in eye pressure may occur within minutes of a Syfovre injection. Your doctor will monitor your eye pressure immediately after the injection. If your eye pressure remains high, your doctor may administer eye drops to reduce it.

In some cases, eye pressure may need to be managed with daily eye drops. Your doctor will likely schedule follow-up visits to check eye pressure. They’ll do this especially if you’ve had glaucoma (increased eye pressure) before Syfovre use.

Note any questions you have about Syfovre and its potential effects on eye pressure. It’s essential to discuss these with your doctor.

Does Syfovre cause long-term side effects?

It’s possible. Long-term side effects may start while using a drug, even if you’ve used it a long time. They also include side effects that may not go away, even after you stop using the drug. How long it takes side effects to go away varies from person to person.

Examples of long-term side effects reported in Syfovre’s studies include:

  • wet AMD
  • retinal detachment (when the retina detaches from the back of the eye)
  • swelling or blocking of blood vessels, which can decrease blood flow to your optic nerve or retina
  • endophthalmitis (swelling and infection of the inner lining of the eye)

The following conditions can lead to blindness. So it’s essential to call your doctor right away if you have any of them:

  • sudden loss of vision
  • redness in the white of the eye
  • severe eye pain or sensitivity to light
  • blurred, wavy, or distorted vision
  • any change in vision, including blurring, distorted vision, flashes of light, black spots, or loss of central vision

If you’re concerned about possible long-term side effects from Syfovre, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

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

Endophthalmitis

Endophthalmitis (swelling and infection of the inner lining of the eye) was an uncommon side effect reported in studies of Syfovre. Endophthalmitis may cause symptoms such as:

  • redness in the white of the eye
  • sensitivity to light
  • blurred, wavy, or distorted vision
  • floaters (appearance of specks, dots, fibers, or cobwebs in your vision)
  • flashes of light

What might help

When receiving Syfovre, sanitary practices during and after the infection are essential. Before giving you a Syfovre injection, your doctor will flush your eye with an antiseptic eye solution. You also may prevent an infection by:

  • exactly following your doctor’s instructions for care after your injection
  • washing your hands before placing any eye drops in your eye
  • avoiding touching the eyedrop bottle to the eye

If you have symptoms of endophthalmitis during your Syfovre treatment, see your doctor right away. Endophthalmitis must be treated urgently to prevent vision damage or blindness.

Retinal detachment

Retinal detachment was an uncommon side effect reported in studies of Syfovre. Retinal detachment may cause symptoms such as:

  • sudden onset of floaters (appearance of specks, dots, fibers, or cobwebs in your vision)
  • sudden onset of tiny black specks in your vision
  • flashes of light
  • a dark or curtain-like shadow in your vision
  • blurred vision
  • loss of vision

Factors that can increase the risk of retinal detachment when receiving an injection of Syfovre include:

  • previous eye injury, eye surgery, or retinal detachment
  • severe nearsightedness
  • vitreous detachment (when the gel filling the eyeball detaches from the retina)
  • family history of retinal detachment

What might help

If you have symptoms of retinal detachment during Syfovre treatment, see your doctor right away. It’s urgent that retinal detachment is treated to prevent vision damage or blindness.

Allergic reaction

For some people, Syfovre 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 Syfovre.

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 Syfovre, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

This section contains important information you should consider before using Syfovre.

Warnings

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

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

  • active infection
  • active swelling, pain, or redness in the eye being treated
  • history of wet age-related macular degeneration
  • glaucoma
  • history of retinal detachment (when the retina detaches from the back of the eye), floaters (appearance of specks, dots, fibers, or cobwebs in your vision), or flashes of light
  • previous allergic reaction to Syfovre
  • pregnancy or breastfeeding (see below)

Alcohol and Syfovre

There are no known interactions between alcohol and Syfovre. If you have questions about consuming alcohol during Syfovre treatment, talk with your doctor.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding with Syfovre

It’s not known whether it’s safe to use Syfovre during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning either, talk with your doctor before starting treatment with Syfovre.

If you’re able to become pregnant, your doctor may recommend using a form of birth control during your Syfovre treatment. They’ll likely recommend using it throughout your treatment. You may also need to continue using birth control for 40 days after your last Syfovre injection.

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.