A common off-label usage of Avastin silicone eye injections may be linked with a few serious eye complications. Patients who experience complications after Avastin silicone eye injections, such as infection, may be able to seek compensation.

Background of Avastin Silicone Eye Injections

Avastin (bevacizumab) is approved as a cancer treatment drug, but it has been commonly used off-label as a treatment for a number of eye diseases including macular degeneration, retinal vein occlusion, diabetic macular edema, and diabetic retinopathy. Although Avastin has been approved to treat cancer, these eye disease treatment uses have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Side Effects of Avastin Silicone Eye Injections

Despite the off-label usage, one problem that patients have reported with Avastin silicone eye injections isn’t the drug bevacizumab itself, but instead has to do with the way it is injected. Avastin silicone eye injections are done via a syringe, and these syringes are prefilled at pharmacies that have purchased Avastin from distributors.

However, in many cases, these syringes are not specifically designed for eye injections. These syringes have been lubricated in multiple places with silicone oil, on the needle itself as well as on the barrel and the plunger.

The problem here is that, while the silicone oil functions as a helpful lubricant for the syringe, particles from the silicone oil can actually migrate into other substances. For instance, when a syringe coated with silicone oil is filled with Avastin, the silicone oil can mix with the drug at the syringe’s barrel.

This would not be a major issue if the Avastin were filled into the syringe and immediately injected. But Avastin is commonly prefilled into syringes for distribution to eye doctors, who don’t necessarily use them right away. There can be up to several weeks between the time the pharmacy prefills the syringe to the time of injection into a patient’s eye. This can allow silicone oil plenty of time to migrate into the Avastin.

As patients are injected with Avastin, the silicone oil may leave behind particles in the patient’s eyes.

The silicone particles left behind by Avastin silicone eye injections can reportedly lead to a number of serious side effects, 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/blindness
• Other sight-related complications

Filing an Avastin Lawsuit Over Silicone Eye Injection Complications

If you or someone you love has suffered from serious complications caused by silicone oil from Avastin silicone eye injections or even an infection, you may be able to file an Avastin lawsuit. Of course, filing a claim cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by these side effects, but it can help to alleviate the financial burden incurred by medical expenses and lost wages.

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