An air bubble in the eye has been reported by patients who recently underwent Avastin eye injections, allegedly due to the needle’s lubricant. This silicone lubricant reportedly leaks into the Avastin medication in the syringe and enters the eye when dispersed, possibly leading to the formation of an air bubble in the eye.

It is important to note that air bubble in the eye formations are not directly linked to the drug itself, but specifically to the silicone oil utilized as a lubricant for the needles.

There are a number of factors that play into this complication, ranging from how the Avastin injections are prepared to the intended purpose of the medical treatment. Patients who allegedly developed an air bubble in the eye had received Avastin eye injections from their ophthalmologists to treat certain eyesight conditions including:

• Macular Degeneration
• Retinal Vein Occlusion
• Diabetic Macular Edema
• Diabetic Retinopathy

Avastin is a popular cancer treatment drug that is also effective in combating the growth of abnormal blood vessels in the back of the eye. These blood vessels can lead to issues like diabetic retinopathy and retinal damage, compromising the patient’s eyesight.

Overview of Avastin Eye Injection Complications

While Avastin is popularly used to treat eye conditions, these uses are considered off-label treatment as they have not been evaluated and approved by the FDA. While it is not illegal for doctors to prescribe medications for off-label purposes, this also means Avastin was not meant for eye injections to begin with.

In addition to the off-label nature of Avastin eye injections, the preparation of these needles has also been called into question. Avastin eye injections are prepared in syringes that may be lubricated with silicone oil. The lubrication oil is supposed to insure smooth transition of the drug, while providing minimal pain to the injection site.

However, silicone oil has been reported to migrate from the needle’s surface area into the barrel and plunger, ultimately mixing with the Avastin drug. This silicone oil has caused a number of patients to develop silicone floaters or air bubble in the eye shortly after Avastin is injected.

If a patient develops an air bubble in the eye, they should report to their physician as quickly as possible. These silicone floaters have been linked to a number of serious eyesight problems including:

• Increased Intraocular Pressure
• Inflammation
• Infection (endophthalmitis)
• Retinal Tearing
• Retinal Detachment
• Cataract Formation
• Glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye)
• Hypotony (reduced pressure in the eye)
• Corneal Damage
• Partial Vision Loss or Blindness

It is important to note that the longer the Avastin injection syringe is in wait for use, the likelihood of silicone floaters increases. The chances also reportedly increase when these injections are frozen beforehand, which is most likely done to preserve the medication and to prevent waste.

In addition to air bubble in the eye formation, there have been several reports of bacterial infection in conjunction with Avastin eye injections. These reports of infection caused the FDA to recall certain Avastin syringes that were prepared at certain compound pharmacies that may have been contaminated.

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.

Learn More