Avastin silicone eye floaters are major concern to the general public and medical community, as Avastin is often used for off label purposes for certain eye treatments.

Avastin silicone eye floaters are allegedly caused by the silicone oil that lubricates the syringes that are used for eye injections. Sometimes the syringes used to inject Avastin are not specially made for eye injections.

Avastin (bevacizumab) is a popular cancer treatment drug that is often implemented for treatment of ovarian, fallopian tube, or peritoneal cancer. This drug is also used for colorectal cancer, because it is able to block VEGF controls from further developing blood vessels that feed cancer.

Avastin can also be used for certain eye treatments including macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema, central retinal vein occulation, and histoplasmosis.

Even though Avastin is popularly used for these purposes, the FDA has not yet given official approval for this treatment. While doctors are legally able to prescribe medications for off label purposes, the increasing number of injury reports indicating Avastin silicone eye floaters is concerning.

According to a study published by JAMA Ophthalmology, researchers observed 60 patients who received Avastin injections. The researchers found that 41 of these patients reportedly developed Avastin silicone eye floaters soon after getting the injections.

Overview of Avastin Silicone Eye Floaters

While there could be a number of different factors contributing the formation of Avastin silicone eye floaters, they’re believed to stem from the preparation process of lubricating the syringes.

The syringes are prepared by compound pharmacists, which are then sent to ophthalmologists for use. While there is nothing wrong with the silicone oil itself, the problems begin when the oil sits on the needle for long periods of time.

If the Avastin injections are not used immediately, the chances of the silicone oil intermixing with the medication greatly increases. This is because silicone often migrates away from the surface of the needle, and then eventually mixes in with Avastin. The chances of Avastin silicone eye floaters increases even more if the syringe is frozen before being used.

When the silicone leaks into the eyes after injection, it appears as though little bubbles are forming in the eye. Patients should report Avastin silicone eye floaters if they see them, to prevent serious eyesight complications 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
• Vision Loss or Blindness

In addition to these serious complications, Avastin silicone eye floaters may also cause bacterial infections in the eyes. Two reported cases of these occurred in Florida and Tennessee in 2011, with other patients alleging they lost their eyesight completely. In the most serious case, a patient died due to the infection spreading into his brain.

The infections eventually spurred the FDA to issue a recall of Avastin syringes in certain compound pharmacies, which were allegedly the sources of bacteria.

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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