Izervay (avacincaptad pegol) is a prescription drug used to treat severe age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Izervay can cause side effects that range from mild to serious. Examples include blurry vision and increased pressure in the eye.

Specifically, Izervay is used in adults to treat geographic atrophy, which is the late or advanced stage of AMD.

The active ingredient in Izervay is avacincaptad pegol. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) The drug comes as a liquid solution that’s given as an injection into your eye.

Keep reading to learn about the common, mild, and serious side effects that Izervay can cause. For a general overview of the drug, including details about its uses, see this article.

Some people may experience mild to serious side effects during Izervay treatment. Examples of the drug’s commonly reported side effects include:

  • blurry vision
  • a brief increase in pressure in the eye
  • a red spot on the white of the eye due to bleeding on the eye’s surface
  • increased risk of wet AMD*

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.

Mild side effects have been reported with Izervay. These include:

  • eye pain
  • a red spot on the white of the eye due to bleeding on the eye’s surface
  • blurry vision
  • eye floaters (spots or wiggly lines that move in your vision)
  • blepharitis (eyelid inflammation)
  • mild allergic reaction*†

In most cases, these side effects should be temporary. And some may be easily managed. But if you have symptoms that are ongoing or bothersome, talk with your doctor. And do not stop Izervay treatment unless your doctor recommends it.

Izervay may cause mild side effects other than those listed above. See the drug’s prescribing information for details.

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.
† An allergic reaction is possible after receiving Izervay, but this side effect wasn’t reported in studies.

Serious side effects have been reported with Izervay. These include:

If you develop serious side effects during Izervay treatment, 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.

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.
† An allergic reaction is possible after receiving Izervay, but this side effect wasn’t reported in studies.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. If you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with Izervay, visit MedWatch.

Get answers to some frequently asked questions about Izervay’s side effects.

How do side effects of Izervay compare with those of Syfovre?

Izervay and Syfovre (pegcetacoplan) are both treatments for late stage AMD. They belong to the same group of drugs and are both given as an injection into the eye. These drugs can cause some similar and some different side effects.

For example, both drugs have a risk of endophthalmitis, retinal detachment, and wet AMD.*

Syfovre can also cause various types of eye inflammation, such as keratitis, uveitis, and iritis. But these side effects weren’t reported in studies of Izervay.

To learn more about how Izervay and Syfovre compare, see the “FAQ” section of this article or talk with your doctor.

* To learn more about these side effects, see the “Side effects explained” section below.

Does Izervay cause long-term side effects?

It’s possible. Long-term side effects include those that may start at any time during treatment with a drug, even if you’ve taken or received it for a long time. They also include side effects that may not go away, even after you stop treatment with the drug.

An example of a long-term side effect reported in Izervay’s studies is an increased risk of wet AMD.* Izervay can also cause endophthalmitis and retinal detachment,* both of which can cause long-term vision loss if not treated quickly.

Talk with your doctor to learn more about possible side effects of Izervay and how long they may last.

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects explained” section below.

Learn more about some of the side effects Izervay may cause.

Endophthalmitis and retinal detachment

Endophthalmitis and retinal detachment are possible risks with all eye injections, including Izervay. It’s not known how often these side effects occurred in the drug’s studies, but they weren’t common.

Endophthalmitis is severe inflammation inside your eye caused by an infection. Endophthalmitis may cause symptoms such as:

With retinal detachment, your retina pulls away from the back of your eye. Retinal detachment may cause symptoms such as:

  • blurry vision
  • suddenly seeing lots of floaters (spots or wiggly lines that move in your vision)
  • seeing sudden flashes of light
  • partial shadowing of your vision

If not treated quickly, endophthalmitis and retinal detachment can cause long-term vision loss.

What might help

To help reduce the risk of endophthalmitis, your doctor will likely administer antimicrobial eye drops into your eyes before giving you your Izervay injection.

If you have symptoms of endophthalmitis or retinal detachment after receiving an Izervay injection, contact your doctor right away. If you have an infection, your doctor will likely prescribe medication to treat it. If you have a detached retina, you’ll likely need eye surgery to fix it.

Increased risk of wet AMD

Wet AMD was a common side effect reported in studies of Izervay.

Izervay is prescribed to treat the late stage of dry AMD. Dry AMD is caused by age-related wearing down of the macula. (The macula is a small area in the center of your retina that allows you to see things directly in front of you.)

When used for late stage dry AMD, Izervay can increase your risk of developing wet AMD. With wet AMD, leaky blood vessels grow under the macula. These blood vessels leak fluid that can damage the macula.

Symptoms of late stage dry AMD and wet AMD are the same. But wet AMD can cause faster and more severe vision loss than dry AMD.

Symptoms of wet AMD can include:

  • blurry central vision
  • blank spots in your vision
  • difficulty seeing at night or in dim light
  • colors seeming less vivid than usual
  • seeing straight lines as wavy or crooked

To learn more about dry versus wet AMD, see this article.

What might help

During Izervay treatment, your doctor will regularly examine your eyes to monitor your condition and check for wet AMD. If your AMD symptoms get worse while receiving Izervay injections, tell your doctor right away.

If you develop wet AMD, your doctor may prescribe treatments to reduce the growth of abnormal blood vessels in your eyes. This can help prevent further vision loss.

Allergic reaction

Like most drugs, Izervay can cause an allergic reaction in some people. But this side effect wasn’t reported in studies. Symptoms can be mild to serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itchiness
  • flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
  • swelling under your skin (usually in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet)
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms. Examples include:

  • an oral antihistamine, such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
  • a product you apply to your skin, such as hydrocortisone cream

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a mild allergic reaction to Izervay, they’ll decide whether you should continue treatment.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Izervay, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Keeping track of side effects

During your Izervay treatment, consider taking notes on any side effects you’re having. You can then share this information with your doctor. This is especially helpful when you first start a new drug or combination of treatments.

Your side effect notes can include things such as:

  • what dose of the drug you were receiving when you had the side effect
  • how soon you had the side effect after starting that dose
  • what your symptoms were
  • how your symptoms affected your daily activities
  • what other medications you were taking
  • any other information you feel is important

Keeping notes and sharing them with your doctor will help them learn more about how Izervay affects you. They can then use this information to adjust your treatment plan if needed.

Below is important information you should consider before starting Izervay treatment.

Warnings

Izervay can sometimes cause harmful effects in people with certain conditions. This is known as a drug-condition interaction. Other factors may also affect whether Izervay is a good treatment option for you.

Talk with your doctor about your health history before starting Izervay. Be sure to tell them if any of the following factors apply to you:

  • infection in or around your eye
  • inflammation (swelling) inside your eye
  • past allergic reaction to Izervay
  • pregnancy
  • breastfeeding

Alcohol and Izervay

There are no known interactions between alcohol and Izervay. If you have questions about consuming alcohol during Izervay treatment, talk with your doctor.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding with Izervay

There is limited information about the safety of Izervay treatment during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Pregnancy

It’s not known whether it’s safe to receive Izervay injections during pregnancy. If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor before starting treatment with this medication.

Breastfeeding

It isn’t known whether Izervay treatment is safe while breastfeeding. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before starting this medication.

Like most drugs, Izervay can cause a number of side effects that range from mild to serious. But most are temporary and go away after a few days to weeks. If you have questions about side effects that Izervay can cause, talk with your doctor.

Examples of questions to help get you started include:

  • Can I do anything to help prevent side effects after receiving Izervay injections?
  • Do I have a high risk of developing wet AMD with Izervay?
  • Do other treatment options for my condition have similar side effects?

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Disclaimer: Healthline 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.