Severe eye infections that could result in blindness have been reported by patients have had injections of the drug known as Avastin. This drug is used in an off-label fashion to treat a number of vision-related diseases, with one of the most used treatments being for the wet form of age-related macular degeneration. Unfortunately, some patients trying to treat their vision loss have developed Avastin blindness as a result.

Avastin is manufactured by Genentech and is FDA approved to treat cancer. However, numerous retina specialists use this drug in an off-label fashion because each injection only costs about $50.

The lower cost gives Avastin an advantage over Lucentis, another drug made by Genentech which works in the same fashion but is specifically approved as an eye treatment. Each injection of Lucentis costs $2,000, providing a remarkable savings when Avastin is used instead.

In order to use Avastin for eye treatment purposes, a vial of the drug must be divided into a number of small doses that can be injected into the eye. By separating the contents of the vial into small doses, the risk of bacterial contamination is increased. Some compound pharmacies around the country who specialize in making Avastin injections for the eye have introduced these bacterial contaminants unknowingly, causing patients to develop Avastin blindness.

In one particular case, a 77 year-old man developed an eye infection caused by Streptococcus veridians. This bacterial infection then spread to his brain, leaving him to suffer both Avastin blindness and permanent brain damage. Other patients were infected with a different form of bacteria known as Streptococcus oralis.

Lawsuits Allege Avastin Blindness

The 77-year-old man went on to file a lawsuit after he developed the bacterial infection that led to his Avastin blindness and brain damage. He was awarded a total of $4 million in damages after the case was settled.

Another man, age 79, received injections of Avastin into his right eye on a number of occasions with no negative consequences. On the last Avastin injection he received, he experienced a great deal of pain and a white film grew over his eye, turning it completely white, and the coloration of his iris and pupul were no longer visible.

Other lawsuits have been filed by patients who developed Avastin blindness as a result of the bacterial contamination of the injections.

In response to the legal action filed against the company, Genentech stated that Avastin was not manufactured or FDA approved to be used in the eye.

Other Avastin complications have been reported that, while not as serious as blindness, cause considerable trouble for patients. Many have reported Avastin silicone floaters that appear like black discs drifting across their field of vision. These silicone floaters are blamed on the silicone oil that lubricates the syringes used in Avastin injections. Avastin injections have also been known to leave an air bubble in the eye.

Filing Your Own Avastin Lawsuit

If you or a loved one developed Avastin blindness after using the eye injections to treat macular degeneration or other eye-related diseases, you may be eligible to seek legal compensation from the product manufacturer, compounding pharmacy that provided the Avastin injections and potentially other entities.

Individuals who go on to file products liability lawsuits allege that the products that caused them injury were either defectively designed, defectively manufactured or defectively marketed, or any combination of three.

Plaintiffs suffering Avastin blindness may be eligible to recover damages related to medical expenses, lost wages and earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life and more. An experienced product liability attorney can help review your case in a free consultation and can help you decide if proceeding by filing an Avastin blindness lawsuit is right for you.

Do YOU have a legal claim? Fill out the form on this page now for a free, immediate, and confidential case evaluation. The attorneys who work with Top Class Actions will contact you if you qualify to let you know if an individual lawsuit or Avastin silicone injection class action lawsuit is best for you. [In general, Avastin lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.] Hurry — statutes of limitations may apply.

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