10 Lucentis Side Effects: What to Expect After Receiving Your Injections

If you have an eye condition such as wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) or diabetic macular edema (DME), you may be prescribed Lucentis (ranibizumab). It’s a once-monthly injection that can help slow down vision loss by blocking a protein called vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A).

Lucentis is administered as an injection in your eye specialist’s office. The injection itself is usually painless and only takes about 5 minutes. However, there are certain side effects that you may experience afterward.

Lucentis side effects at a glance

Since Lucentis is injected directly into the eye, most side effects affect the eye specifically. Oftentimes, these side effects are temporary and resolve on their own. Though, while rare, more serious side effects are possible. There are two FDA-approved biosimilars to Lucentis: Byooviz and Cimerli. All three medications work the same way and have similar side effects.

Common Lucentis side effects include:

• Bleeding on the outer surface of the eye

• Eye pain or soreness

• Eye irritation

• Eye redness

• Floaters in the eye fluid

• High eye pressure

• Blurry vision

• Dry eye

• Cataracts (cloudy areas in the lens of the eye)

Less common but potentially serious Lucentis side effects include:

• Vitreous detachment

• Endophthalmitis

• Retinal detachment

• Blood clots

Below, we cover what you should know about 10 of these side effects. 

Keep in mind that these aren’t all of the possible side effects from Lucentis. You can speak with your eye specialist to learn more. 

1. Bleeding at the front of the eye

After receiving a Lucentis injection, you may notice some temporary bleeding on the surface of the eye. This is called a subconjunctival hemorrhage. You can expect this bleeding to clear up within a week after your injection, though it can sometimes take longer. 

If you’re taking a medication that thins your blood, such as warfarin or aspirin, be sure to let your eye specialist know. One study found that the risk of bleeding complications from Lucentis with these medications was very low. But your eye specialist will want to monitor you more closely for potential issues. And let them know if bleeding in the front of your eye lasts longer than 2 weeks.

2. Eye pain

Your eye specialist will apply eye drops to numb your eye(s) before the Lucentis injection. The injection itself usually isn’t painful. But once the numbness wears off, you may experience mild eye pain for up to 24 hours. To help with post-injection discomfort, your eye specialist might recommend an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol).

Sometimes, eye pain can be a sign of a more serious problem — like infection or damage to the eye. Tell your eye specialist right away if you develop eye pain more than a day after your injection or if your post-infection pain is persistent or gets worse.

Good to know: For a few hours after your Lucentis injection, your eye(s) may feel irritated. This can feel like there’s something in your eye and is typically due to the antiseptic used during the procedure. Avoid rubbing your eyes. Artificial tears may help lessen the irritation.

3. Floaters in the eye fluid

Another common Lucentis side effect is floaters. Floaters are small spots or lines that seem to “float” across your vision. During initial clinical trials, up to 27% of people had floaters after receiving Lucentis.

Floaters are normally harmless. But sometimes, floaters may indicate something more serious, especially if they seem to increase the day after a Lucentis injection. Tell your eye specialist if you notice floaters in your vision so they can rule out potential complications.

4. Increased eye pressure

Studies have shown that a short-term rise in eye pressure after anti-VEGF injections is common. This is thought to be due to the extra volume injected into the eye, along with other factors. 

Your eye specialist will monitor your eye pressure before and after your injection. For most people, their eye pressure returns to normal between 30 and 60 minutes after getting Lucentis. But in rare cases, this side effect can persist and require long-term treatment. 

Researchers don’t fully understand why some people experience a long-lasting increase in eye pressure. But if it does happen, it’s important to get treatment. Having high pressure in the eye can put you at risk for problems like glaucoma. You may not notice changes in your eye pressure, so make sure to attend your follow-up appointments.

5. Blurry vision

If you have blurry vision after your Lucentis injection, you’re not alone. Temporary blurry vision can be caused by inflammation in your eye due to the injection. But in some cases, blurry vision, especially if it’s not improving, may be due to a more serious issue like damage to the eye or cataracts.

Make sure to arrange a ride home for each Lucentis injection appointment since it may not be safe for you to drive yourself. If you notice blurry vision that doesn’t go away shortly after your procedure, contact your eye specialist. They’ll need to make sure there isn’t a complication causing you to have blurry vision.

6. Dry eye

Lucentis can also cause your eye(s) to feel drier. Older adults and people with certain health conditions, such as diabetes, may be at a higher risk for dry eye. The antibiotics and other eye drops used during your Lucentis injections can also contribute.

Tell your eye specialist if your eyes feel drier after your Lucentis injection. They may recommend lubricating eye drops to help.

7. Vitreous detachment

According to clinical trials, vitreous detachment, when the gel-like fluid in your eye called the vitreous gets displaced, is possible after receiving Lucentis. But this also occurred in a similar percentage of people who received a placebo (an injection without medication). And, in general, the risk of vitreous detachment goes up as you get older, starting at age 50.

Vitreous detachment can cause more floaters or flashes of light in your side vision. It can also lead to more serious damage to certain parts of your eye.

If you notice changes in your vision, it’s important to notify your eye specialist. They can check for vitreous detachment and other types of damage to your eye. Depending on the results, you may or may not need further treatment.

8. Cataracts

Some people receiving Lucentis, as well as those receiving a placebo, have reported developing cataracts during treatment. Though, it’s not clear whether Lucentis raises the risk of cataracts. And similar to vitreous detachment, cataracts are more likely to develop as you get older.

Cataracts usually develop over time. After a while, you may notice symptoms such as blurred or cloudy vision, trouble seeing at night, and faded colors. Tell your eye specialist if you notice any of these changes in your vision.

9. Eye inflammation and damage

Lucentis is an intravitreal injection. This means it’s injected into a space at the back of the eye, near the retina. While rare, this type of injection has been associated with endophthalmitis and retinal detachment.

Endophthalmitis, which is usually caused by an infection, is the inflammation of the inner eye cavity. With endophthalmitis, you may experience symptoms such as eye pain, eye redness, and sensitivity to light. Contact your eye specialist immediately if these symptoms develop. If it’s not treated promptly, the condition can lead to permanent vision loss. 

Retinal detachment is when the light-sensitive layer of tissue in your eye called the retina pulls away from its normal position. Symptoms of retinal detachment occur suddenly and can include many new floaters, flashes of light in your eye(s), and a dark shadow in your field of vision. Retinal detachment is a medical emergency, so go to the nearest ER if these symptoms develop.

10. Blood clots

Though rare, blood clots have been seen with anti-VEGF injections. 

During clinical trials, a small percentage of people receiving Lucentis experienced a heart attack or stroke due to blood clots. This seemed to happen more often in people with DME and other diabetes-related eye problems. And it’s important to note that people with these conditions already have an increased risk of heart attack and stroke due to diabetes.

If you experience symptoms of a heart attack or stroke, such as chest pain, sudden weakness on one side of your body, or trouble speaking, get medical help right away.

When should you contact your eye specialist about Lucentis side effects?

As mentioned above, some eye irritation, soreness, and dryness is normal after your Lucentis injection. You’ll likely be given instructions for symptoms to watch for and when to contact your eye specialist. But, in general, eye symptoms that persist or worsen and those that start more than a day after your injection warrant a call. These can include:

• Eye pain

• Eye redness

• Eye swelling

• Floaters

• Sensitivity to light

• Discharge from the eye(s)

• Eye bleeding

• Blurry vision or other vision changes

The symptoms listed above can be signs of more serious eye problems. And although serious damage to your eyes and eye infections are rare with Lucentis, your eye specialist will want to rule out these possibilities.

Get medical attention right away if you experience signs or symptoms of a heart attack or stroke, such as:

• Chest pain

• Shortness of breath

• Weakness on one side of your body

• Trouble speaking

• Sudden severe headache

• Loss of balance or coordination

If you’re experiencing any other side effects that are bothersome and don’t seem to be getting better, let your eye specialist know. 

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Written by:

Kristianne Hannemann, PharmD

Kristianne Hannemann, PharmD, is a licensed pharmacist in California. She has been a retail pharmacy manager and staff pharmacist for over 7 years and has contributed drug information content to different health companies.

Edited by:

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD, is the director of pharmacy content for GoodRx. She has over a decade of experience as a pharmacist and has worked in clinical, academic, and administrative roles.

Reviewed by:

Nishika Reddy, MD

Nishika Reddy, MD, is an attending physician at the University of Utah. She provides comprehensive and cornea medical care at the Moran Eye Center and serves as clinical assistant professor.

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