Key takeaways

  • Vabysmo (faricimab-svoa) can cause side effects that range from mild to serious. If side effects from Vabysmo become difficult to tolerate, talk with your doctor about coping tips or other treatment options.
  • Common side effects of Vabysmo include blood in the white of the eye and cataracts, while mild side effects include eye pain, watery eye, and blurred vision. In most cases, these side effects should be temporary, and some may be managed easily.
  • Serious side effects of Vabysmo can include blocked blood vessels in the eye, increased eye pressure, torn or detached retina, and serious blood clots like stroke or heart attack. If you develop serious side effects while receiving Vabysmo, call your doctor right away for diagnosis and treatment.

Vabysmo is an eye injection used in adults to treat:

Vabysmo is a biologic drug with the active ingredient faricimab-svoa. (The letters “-svoa” in the drug’s name distinguish it from similar drugs that may be created in the future.)

Keep reading to learn about the common, mild, and serious side effects that Vabysmo injection can cause. For general information, including details about its uses, read this Vabysmo overview.

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

The following sections include more side effects of Vabysmo. Each person’s experience with side effects may differ.

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

  • eye pain and discomfort
  • watery eye
  • eye itchiness and irritation
  • the sensation that there’s a foreign object in your eye
  • red, inflamed, or swollen eye
  • scratch on the surface of the eye
  • blood in the white of the eye
  • eye floaters
  • blurred vision
  • cataracts

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 Vabysmo injections unless your doctor recommends it.

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

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

For more information about some of these side effects, see the “Tips for managing side effects” section.

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

Allergic reaction

For some people, Vabysmo or its inactive ingredients may cause an allergic reaction. But this side effect wasn’t reported in the drug’s studies.

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 they can determine whether you should keep receiving Vabysmo.

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

Your doctor can confirm whether you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Vabysmo. If so, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

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

What are the side effects of Vabysmo vs. Eylea?

Vabysmo studies used Eylea as a comparison medication. This was to see whether Vabysmo was equally effective and safe in treating RVO, wet AMD, and DME. These studies showed that both Vabysmo and Eylea have the same common side effects. Some examples are:

These studies also confirmed warnings about severe side effects for both drugs, including:

  • inflamed or blocked blood vessels in the eye
  • increased eye pressure (ocular hypertension)
  • torn or detached retina
  • blood clots involving the eye and the entire body
  • infection inside the eye

Overall, Vabysmo may have slightly lower rates of side effects than Eylea. But more studies need to be done in a larger population to confirm these results.

For more information about Eylea, see its prescribing information or read this Eylea overview. If you need help choosing between Vabysmo or Eylea treatments, check with your doctor or pharmacist.

Will I get cataracts from receiving Vabysmo?

Yes, cataracts are a common side effect of Vabysmo. Any type of eye injection can cause cataracts, but doctors can treat them with surgery.

This side effect usually won’t prevent a doctor from treating your condition with Vabysmo.

To learn more about cataracts from receiving Vabysmo, talk with your doctor.

What are the long-term effects of Vabysmo?

Examples of possible long-term effects from Vabysmo include cataracts, eye floaters, torn or detached retina, and blurred vision or vision loss. Rare but serious events, including stroke and heart attack have been reported during treatment, though they aren’t considered typical long-term effects of Vabysmo.

If you’re concerned about possible side effects and how long they may last, talk with your doctor. For more information about some of these side effects, see the “Tips for managing side effects” section.

Learn more about some of the side effects Vabysmo may cause and how to manage them.

Blood clots

Blood clots were an uncommon systemic side effect reported in studies of Vabysmo. A systemic side effect involves the eye and the entire body.

Arterial thromboembolism (ATE) is a type of blood clot that occurs mostly in the legs and feet and sometimes in the arms. ATEs can cause nonfatal stroke or heart attack. Some of the symptoms of ATE to look out for in an arm or leg include:

Factors that can increase the risk of blood clots when receiving Vabysmo include:

What might help

Before starting Vabysmo, discuss your medical history and any medications you are currently taking with your doctor. Pay attention to the signs of a blood clot listed above. If you notice any of them, get emergency medical help.

Torn or detached retina

A torn or detached retina was a rare side effect reported in studies of Vabysmo. A torn or detached retina may cause symptoms such as:

  • sudden vision loss or blurred vision
  • a shadow in your vision
  • flashing lights in your vision
  • eye floaters or black specks in your vision
  • inability to see out the corner of your eye

Factors that can increase the risk of a torn or detached retina when receiving Vabysmo include:

  • severe myopia (nearsightedness)
  • ages of 65 years or older
  • a history of eye injury, eye surgery, or a torn or detached retina

What might help

Being aware of the above symptoms is important. This means to watch for them. If you think you’ve developed any signs of them, get emergency medical care.

Infection inside the eye

Infection inside the eye was a rare side effect reported in studies of Vabysmo. Infection inside the eye may cause symptoms such as:

  • pain
  • vision changes
  • sensitivity to light
  • redness of the white of the eye
  • drainage

Factors that can increase the risk of infection inside the eye when receiving Vabysmo include:

What might help

To decrease your risk of infection inside the eye, remember the following tips:

  • Wash your hands frequently.
  • Pay attention to and closely follow your doctor’s before-injection and after-injection care instructions.
  • Avoid rubbing or touching your eye.
  • When using eye drops, avoid touching the tip of the dropper to your eye or anything else.

If you develop any symptoms of infection inside the eye, notify your doctor right away. Rapid awareness and prompt treatment of them can play a key role in preventing serious infection.

Keeping track of side effects

During your Vabysmo treatment, consider taking notes on any side effects you’re having. You can then share this information with your doctor. This is especially helpful when you first start using a new drug or combination of treatments.

Your side effect notes can include things such as:

  • what Vabysmo dosage you were receiving when you had the side effect
  • how soon you had the side effect after starting that dose
  • what your symptoms were
  • how your symptoms affected your daily activities
  • what other medications you were taking
  • any other information you feel is important

Keeping notes and sharing them with your doctor will help them learn more about how Vabysmo affects you. They can then use this information to adjust your treatment plan if needed.

Consider the following important information before starting Vabysmo.

Before starting Vabysmo, discuss your health history with your doctor. Vabysmo may not be the right treatment option for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to tell them if any of the following factors apply to you:

  • active or chronic infection, especially in the eye area
  • eye inflammation
  • circulation problems
  • diabetes or high cholesterol
  • history of blood clots, stroke, or heart attack
  • increased eye pressure (ocular hypertension)
  • history of detached retina
  • severe nearsightedness
  • use of other prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, supplements, or herbs
  • past allergic reaction to Vabysmo
  • pregnancy
  • breastfeeding
  • alcohol consumption

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.