Avastin is a drug that was originally developed for the treatment of cancer. Since then, many physicians have taken advantage of its efficacy in the treatment of certain eye-related diseases as well. Some of the diseases include conditions such as diabetic retinopathy and retinal vein occlusion.

However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved Avastin as a treatment for these conditions. The FDA has only approved Avastin for treatments for cancer. Treatments for eye conditions are known to be simple off-label uses of Avastin. It is, however, common for physicians to prescribe drugs for off-label purposes.

Avastin Silicone Floaters Complications and Side Effects

According to reports, the use of an Avastin injection may be hazardous. Reports indicate that an Avastin injection can become contaminated with bacteria, which can then cause a patient to suffer from an Avastin silicone floater eye infection.

There is an alleged link between Avastin eye injection and Avastin silicone floaters. And, although Avastin silicone floaters may seem somewhat innocuous, they can, however, lead to more serious adverse effects and complications, including eye infections.

The issue that surrounds the Avastin eye injection is that while the drug is inserted into a syringe, it also becomes lubricated with silicone oil. The silicone oil may leave behind silicone floaters which can make their way into a patient’s eye.

Complications are not necessarily caused by the drug, bevacizumab, itself, but rather by the way the drug is injected.

Contamination can happen when the Avastin injection is prepared, usually by a compounding pharmacist. As this process is done by hand in a pharmacy, it creates a risk of contamination.

The pre-filled syringes typically spend days or even weeks in storage before it is finally administered to a patient. The silicone oil, therefore, that is used to lubricate the syringes on the needle, barrel, or plunger, can make its way into the drug, mix, and then become injected into a patient’s eye. Avastin silicone floaters are then left behind in a patient’s eye.

Reports further indicate that two incidences of Avastin infection, occurring in both the states of Florida and Tennessee, caused patients to suffer from infections and later suffer losses of vision. Additionally, reports have maintained that one patient has even suffered from brain damage due to the infection from the Avastin injection spreading to the patient’s brain.

Some other side effects of Avastin silicone floaters include: cataract formation, corneal damage, blindness, inflammation, and hypotony.

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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