Vabysmo (faricimab-svoa) is a brand-name injectable medication that’s prescribed for macular degeneration in certain adults. As with other drugs, Vabysmo can cause side effects. These include cataracts, vision changes, or itchy eyes.

Vabysmo can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Vabysmo in clinical trials:

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.

Mild side effects can occur with Vabysmo. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Vabysmo’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects that have been reported with Vabysmo include:

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while receiving Vabysmo and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.
† An allergic reaction is possible after using Vabysmo. However, it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in clinical trials. To learn more, see the “Side effect specifics” section below.

Vabysmo may cause serious side effects. However, serious side effects from this medication weren’t common. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Vabysmo’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects while receiving Vabysmo, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include:

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.
† An allergic reaction is possible after using Vabysmo. However, it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in clinical trials. To learn more, see the “Side effect specifics” section below.

Vabysmo may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.

Are side effects of Vabysmo similar to those seen with Eylea?

Vabysmo and Eylea (aflibercept) are drugs that may be prescribed to treat types of macular degeneration. Specifically, both drugs are approved to treat wet age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular degeneration.

Both medications are eye injections that work in similar ways. As such, some side effects of Vabysmo and Eylea are similar, but others are different.

For example, both drugs can cause subconjunctival hemorrhage, eye pain, cataracts, or eye floaters.

However, these medications may also cause different side effects. For example, Eylea can cause vitreous detachment. This is when the gel of your eye detaches from the retina. Vabysmo isn’t known to cause this side effect.

If you have concerns about specific side effects during your treatment for macular degeneration, talk with your doctor. They can help recommend the best treatment options for you.

Does Vabysmo cause long-term side effects?

Yes, it’s possible for Vabysmo to cause long-term side effects. Most side effects from Vabysmo will go away on their own over time or after you stop using Vabysmo. However, it’s still possible for long-term side effects to occur from this medication.

Examples of long-term side effects from Vabysmo include:

Long-term side effects from this drug are typically rare. However, some long-term side effects, such as cataracts and vision changes, were reported more than others in clinical trials. If you have questions or concerns about long-term side effects occurring during your treatment with Vabysmo, talk with your doctor.

Learn more about some of the side effects that Vabysmo may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for Vabysmo.

Eye infection

It’s possible to develop an eye infection from using Vabysmo. Specifically, this medication may cause an eye infection called endophthalmitis. However, this side effect wasn’t common in Vabysmo’s clinical trials.

Symptoms of endophthalmitis include:

What you can do

If you develop symptoms of an eye infection during treatment with Vabysmo, tell your doctor right away. An untreated eye infection can lead to serious complications, such as permanent vision changes.

Your doctor can recommend the best treatment options for you. For example, they may prescribe an antibiotic to treat the infection.

Subconjunctival hemorrhage

It’s possible to develop a subconjunctival hemorrhage from receiving Vabysmo. This was a common side effect reported by people using Vabysmo in clinical trials.

A subconjunctival hemorrhage is when a blood vessel in your eye breaks. This causes some blood to leak into the white part of your eye, making the white part look red.

What you can do

Although this condition may look concerning, it’s not usually harmful. In most cases, this side effect will go away on its own within a few weeks.

However, if you have concerns about a red spot on the white of your eye, talk with your doctor. Your doctor or pharmacist may be able to suggest ways to reduce the risk of this side effect.

Allergic reaction

As with most drugs, Vabysmo can cause an allergic reaction in some people. However, it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in clinical trials.

Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itching
  • flushing
  • swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What you can do

For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, call your doctor right away. They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should keep receiving Vabysmo. However, if your symptoms are serious and you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before you receive Vabysmo. This drug may not be the right treatment for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. These are considered drug-condition or drug-factor interactions. The conditions and factors to consider include:

Eye infection. If you have an eye infection, tell your doctor before starting treatment with Vabysmo. Your doctor will also examine your eyes for signs of infection before each dose. If you do have an eye infection, your doctor will likely treat the infection before giving your dose of Vabysmo. After treating your infection, they can recommend whether Vabysmo is safe for you to receive again.

Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Vabysmo or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Vabysmo. Ask your doctor what other medications may be better options for you.

Eye inflammation. If you have any inflammation or swelling of your eye, tell your doctor before receiving your dose of Vabysmo. Your doctor will also examine your eyes before giving each dose. If you have any inflammation, your doctor will likely want to treat it before giving you your dose. After treating your inflammation, your doctor will advise whether Vabysmo is safe for you to receive.

Pregnancy or breastfeeding. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, Vabysmo may not be safe for you to receive. At this time, there aren’t any clinical trials to determine whether Vabysmo is safe to receive during pregnancy. It’s also not known whether the drug passes into breast milk or how it may affect a child who’s breastfed.

However, it’s believed that the drug may cause fetal harm. Due to these risks, your doctor will likely not prescribe Vabysmo if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.

If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning for either, talk with your doctor before receiving Vabysmo injections. They can help determine whether this drug is safe for you.

Alcohol consumption. If you drink alcohol, Vabysmo is likely safe for you to receive. There aren’t any known interactions between Vabysmo and alcohol. If you have questions about drinking alcohol while receiving Vabysmo injections, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

It’s possible for Vabysmo to cause side effects to occur. However, most side effects of Vabysmo are mild.

If you’d like to learn more about Vabysmo, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about side effects from receiving the drug.

Besides talking with your doctor, you can do some research on your own. These articles might help:

  • More information about Vabysmo. For details about other aspects of Vabysmo, refer to this article.
  • A look at macular degeneration. For details about macular degeneration, see our eye health hub.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.