Numerous patients have alleged serious Avastin injection side effects after the product was used to treat their eye conditions.

According to recent injury reports, the Avastin injection side effects stem from how the drug is administered through the syringes used. Two cases of Avastin injection side effects were reported in 2011 from Florida and Tennessee, with the patients reportedly developing serious eye infections.

The Avastin injections were possibly exposed to bacteria when the drug was prepared by a compounding pharmacist, resulting in several patients losing their eyesight. One patient becoming brain damaged after the infection spread from his eye.

The serious reports of Avastin injection side effects eventually led to the FDA issuing a recall of syringes prepared by certain pharmacies.

Overview of Avastin Injection Side Effects

Even though this drug is typically used for cancer treatments, scientists have found that this drug is very effective against certain eyesight conditions. These conditions can range from deterioration to disease side effects including:

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

Avastin was originally approved by the FDA as a cancer treatment. Even though numerous patients have used this product for their eye conditions, it is important to note that this is considered an off-label purpose by the FDA. Doctors can prescribe the drug for off treatment purposes, but manufacturers cannot advertise them for such purposes.

To treat eye conditions, Avastin (Bevacizumab) is directly injected into the patients’ eyes, using a syringe lubricated with silicone oil prepared by a compounding pharmacist.

These pre-filled syringes are then delivered to ophthalmologists, who then implement the treatment. The silicone oil used to lubricate the syringe may enter the patient’s eye during injection, and it can create silicone floaters directly inside the eye. The silicone oil particles can also cause increased ocular pressure, which can potentially result in blindness if not treated promptly.

The Avastin injection side effects can be caused by a number of problems linked to the syringe, including the fact that it may not have been made specifically for eye injections. These Avastin injection side effects may be occurring is because the silicone may be migrating from the surface of the needle, barrel, and needle, ultimately mixing with Avastin.

The longer the silicone stays in the syringe before being used, the greater the chances of the silicone oil mixing in with Avastin. The chances are also higher if the syringe is frozen before hand. Silicone oil that enters the patient’s eyes can lead to a number of Avastin injection side effects mentioned in reports such as:

• 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

Recent studies have suggested that compounding pharmacists should use freeze watch cards when handling new Avastin samples, to indicate whether the sample has been frozen previously. Previous freezings could  increase the risk of contamination.

Patients who experienced Avastin injection side effects may be in a position to file legal action. These complications may have been preventable had greater care been taken during manufacturing and preparation. Potential claimants can contact a medical products liability lawyer to determine eligibility.

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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