Eylea Is a Prescription Eye Injection Used to Treat Serious Vision Conditions

Eylea (aflibercept) is a prescription medication given as an injection into the eye to treat conditions that can cause severe vision loss. It belongs to a class of drugs called VEGF inhibitors, which work by blocking a protein that causes abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina.

Made by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Eylea has been one of the most widely prescribed treatments for retinal diseases since its FDA approval in 2011. Here's everything you need to know about how it's used, how it's dosed, and what to expect.

What Is Eylea Used For?

Eylea is FDA-approved to treat five conditions, all involving the retina — the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye:

1. Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration (Wet AMD)

Wet AMD is the most common reason Eylea is prescribed. In this condition, abnormal blood vessels grow under the macula (the center of the retina) and leak fluid or blood, causing rapid vision loss. Eylea helps stop the leaking and can improve or stabilize vision.

2. Diabetic Macular Edema (DME)

DME occurs when diabetes damages blood vessels in the retina, causing fluid to accumulate in the macula. This leads to blurred central vision. Eylea reduces the swelling and leakage.

3. Diabetic Retinopathy (DR)

Even without macular edema, diabetes can damage retinal blood vessels. Eylea is approved to treat diabetic retinopathy and can help prevent the condition from progressing to more severe stages.

4. Macular Edema Following Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO)

When a vein in the retina becomes blocked, fluid leaks into the macula. Eylea treats the resulting swelling and helps preserve vision.

5. Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)

Approved in 2023, Eylea can be used to treat abnormal blood vessel growth in the eyes of premature infants, a condition that can lead to blindness if untreated.

How Is Eylea Given?

Eylea is not a pill, eye drop, or something you can take at home. It's an intravitreal injection — meaning it's injected directly into the vitreous (the gel-like substance inside the eye) by a retina specialist or ophthalmologist.

What the Procedure Looks Like

1. Your eye is numbed with anesthetic drops
2. The area around your eye is cleaned with an antiseptic (usually betadine)
3. The doctor uses a very fine needle to inject Eylea into the eye
4. The injection itself takes only a few seconds
5. Your eye pressure is checked afterward

Most patients say the anticipation is worse than the actual injection. You may feel mild pressure but usually not sharp pain.

Eylea Dosage and Treatment Schedule

Eylea comes in two formulations:

• Eylea 2 mg — The original formulation (2 mg in 0.05 mL)
• Eylea HD 8 mg — A higher-dose version approved in 2023 (8 mg in 0.07 mL), which may allow for longer intervals between injections

Typical Dosing by Condition

Wet AMD: 2 mg every 4 weeks for the first 3 months (loading dose), then 2 mg every 8 weeks. With Eylea HD, dosing may extend to every 8–16 weeks after the loading phase.

Diabetic Macular Edema: 2 mg every 4 weeks for the first 5 injections, then every 8 weeks.

Retinal Vein Occlusion: 2 mg every 4 weeks.

Diabetic Retinopathy: 2 mg every 4 weeks for the first 5 injections, then every 8 weeks.

Retinopathy of Prematurity: A single 0.4 mg injection per eye.

Your doctor may adjust the schedule based on how your condition responds to treatment.

Who Should Not Take Eylea?

Eylea is not appropriate for everyone. You should not receive Eylea if you have:

• An active eye infection (ocular or periocular infection)
• Active inflammation inside the eye (intraocular inflammation)
• A known allergy to aflibercept or any of its ingredients

Additionally, women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant should discuss the risks with their doctor. Eylea may cause fetal harm based on its mechanism of action. It's also unknown whether Eylea passes into breast milk.

Learn more about potential risks in our guide on Eylea side effects.

How Much Does Eylea Cost?

Eylea is expensive. Here's what you can expect:

• Without insurance: Approximately $1,800 to $2,200 per injection for Eylea 2 mg. Eylea HD 8 mg may cost $1,100 to $1,200 per injection.
• With Medicare Part B: Medicare typically covers 80%, leaving you with about 20% coinsurance per injection.
• With commercial insurance: Copays vary widely depending on your plan. Prior authorization is commonly required, and some plans require step therapy (trying Avastin first).

Ways to Save

Regeneron offers the Eylea4U copay assistance program for commercially insured patients, which can reduce your cost to as little as $0 per injection. For uninsured or underinsured patients, the Regeneron Patient Assistance Program may provide Eylea at no cost.

For a complete breakdown of savings options, see our guide on how to save money on Eylea.

Is There a Generic Version of Eylea?

As of early 2026, there is no FDA-approved generic or biosimilar for Eylea. However, several biosimilars are in development and may be available soon. When they arrive, they're expected to cost 15–30% less than branded Eylea.

In the meantime, if cost or availability is an issue, alternatives like Avastin, Lucentis, or Vabysmo may be options to discuss with your doctor.

What If I Can't Find Eylea?

Eylea has experienced intermittent supply constraints due to high demand and the complexity of manufacturing a biologic drug. If your doctor's office doesn't have it in stock:

• Search medfinder.com to find Eylea near you
• Ask your doctor about nearby practices that may have supply
• Discuss alternative treatments if the wait would compromise your vision

Final Thoughts

Eylea is a proven treatment that has helped millions of people preserve and improve their vision. It's used for some of the most common causes of vision loss — wet AMD, diabetic eye disease, and retinal vein occlusion — and is administered by a specialist through a quick, in-office injection.

If you've been prescribed Eylea, understanding the dosing schedule, cost, and what to expect can help you feel more in control of your treatment. And if you're having trouble finding it, medfinder.com can help you check availability near you.