Avastin (bevacizumab) is an eye injection drug that is used to treat a variety of eye-related diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, occlusion of the retinal vein, and diabetic eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema.

Avastin is actually a drug used in the treatment of cancer, but doctors found that the drug was helpful in slowing the vision loss in patients with various eye diseases. Avastin prevents abnormal blood vessels at the back of the eye from further growth. These abnormal blood vessels can leak and cause vision loss, so halting their growth can stop the progression of vision loss.

However, Avastin side effects may cause additional harm to patients and can cause vision loss, the very condition it aims to treat.

Avastin Side Effects

Avastin is administered by injected directly into the eye. Once there, it begins to block VEGF, a chemical that causes the abnormal blood vessels in the eye to grow.

Interestingly, it is not just the drug itself that is responsible for the serious complications that may arise from its use.  Common side effects of Avastin related to the drug itself, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology include:

• Detached retina, leading to vision loss
• Cataracts that cloud the lens of the eye, obstructing vision
• Eye infection
• Redness of the eye
• Eyes being sensitive to light
• Pain in the eye
• Vision changes, such as blurry vision or double vision
• Dry eyes
• Itchy eyes
• Feeling like there is something in your eye

Other Avastin side effects are due to the delivery mechanism of the drug. Since Avastin was not specifically designed by the drug manufacturer to treat eye related disease, the way it has been prepared for use has been by compounding pharmacies filling syringes with the drug. Pharmacies then send the pre-filled syringes to ophthalmologists to use, but not all syringes are made specifically for eye injection use.

Additionally, the syringes have lubrication provided by silicone oil, and the oil can mix with the liquid Avastin. There is a greater likelihood of this occurring the longer the syringes sit before being used, and freezing the syringes prior to use also increases the likelihood of the silicone oil mixing with Avastin.

When the drug is injected into the eye, the silicone particles that have mixed with Avastin can end up being deposited into the eye. Avastin side effects from silicone can lead to vision problems such as floaters affecting the visual field.

Additionally, when compounding pharmacies create the Avastin injections, it can become contaminated with bacteria and can cause patients to develop serious eye infections that can lead to complete vision loss. In one case, the patient’s eye infection caused by Avastin side effects led to a brain infection that was caused by the initial eye infection that had spread.

Taking Legal Action over Avastin Side Effects

If you have suffered from Avastin side effects after having the eye injection procedure to treat disease, you may be eligible to seek legal compensation for your injuries. Filing a product liability lawsuit can help you recover damages related to medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and more. An attorney can provide a free case consultation to discuss your situation and explore your options.

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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