7 Vabysmo Side Effects You Should Know About

Vabysmo (faricimab) is a medication that treats conditions such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema. It’s injected into your eye by a medical professional. Vabysmo can help protect your vision and may reduce how often you need treatment over time. But like all medications, it has side effects to be aware of.

Some Vabysmo side effects are mild and improve on their own. Others can be serious and require quick medical care. Knowing what to expect can help you feel more prepared and know when to reach out to your eye care team. Here’s what you should know about Vabysmo side effects and how to manage them.

Vabysmo side effects at a glance

Mild and serious Vabysmo side effects are listed below. Keep in mind that this isn’t a comprehensive list of all possible side effects. So be sure to discuss any new symptoms that appear with your healthcare team.

Mild Vabysmo side effects are typically temporary and may include:

• Eye bleeding

• Blurred vision

• Light sensitivity

• Eye floaters (temporary)

• Eye inflammation

• Eye pain, redness, or irritation

• Increased tears (temporary)

• Dry eye

Serious Vabysmo side effects include:

• Blurred vision (long-lasting or worsening)

• Light sensitivity (long-lasting or worsening)

• Eye floaters (long-lasting or worsening)

• Cataract

• Retinal tear

• Infection

• Detached retina

• Increased pressure inside the eye

• Blood clot

• Retinal vein occlusion (inflamed or blocked retinal blood vessels)

• Loss of vision

Let’s take a closer look at seven Vabysmo side effects and what to do if they occur.

1. Blurry vision

It’s common to have blurry vision after your Vabysmo injection. For this reason, it’s recommended that you arrange for transportation after your appointment or have someone attend the appointment with you.

In most cases, your vision will clear within a few days of the injection. In the meantime, try to rest your eyes as much as possible and avoid driving or other activities that require clear vision.

If your vision doesn’t improve or worsens in the days after your Vabysmo injection, contact your eye care team. This could be a sign of a more serious Vabysmo side effect.

2. Light sensitivity

Along with blurred vision, your eyes may be more sensitive to light after your Vabysmo injection. It’s a good idea to bring dark sunglasses to your appointment to help protect your eyes afterward. Staying indoors and resting your eyes for the rest of the day can also help reduce discomfort.

Light sensitivity should resolve on its own. But if it doesn’t improve or worsens, be sure to let your eye care team know.

3. Red or painful eyes

Another possible Vabysmo side effect is red or painful eyes. This can happen due to minor bleeding and inflammation after the injection. Inflammation is more common with the first few Vasbysmo injections. In most cases, it will resolve on its own within a few days.

If your eye pain or irritation are bothersome, let your prescriber know. In some cases, they may recommend an anti-inflammatory medication or eyedrop to help reduce pain and swelling.

In rare cases, inflammation can lead to reduced or blocked blood flow to the retina. Symptoms can include sudden blurry vision, new or long-lasting floaters, and vision loss. If these symptoms occur, seek emergency care right away.

4. Eye floaters

Eye floaters (spots, lines, or cobwebs across your field of vision) are a common Vabysmo side effect directly after your injection. They should go away on their own after a few days.

Long-lasting eye floaters can be a sign of swelling or other more serious Vabysmo side effects. So be sure to let your eye care team know if they worsen or don’t improve after your injection. And if you also experience flashes of light or vision loss, seek emergency eye care right away — these could be signs of a detached retina (more on this later).

5. Increased pressure inside the eye

Vabysmo can increase the pressure inside your eye after it’s injected. It isn’t clear exactly why this happens. But it may be related to the extra liquid placed in the eye from the injection itself.

In most cases, eye pressure will return to usual levels on its own within 60 minutes or less. But in some cases, it may remain elevated. This can increase the risk of vision loss and damage to the optic nerve.

Your eye care team will likely monitor the pressure inside your eye after each Vabysmo injection. If it doesn’t resolve, they can take steps to manage it while you’re in the office to prevent eye damage from occurring.

6. Retinal tear or detachment

In rare cases, you may experience a retinal tear or detached retina after receiving a Vabysmo injection. Symptoms can include:

• Flashes of light or sparkles in your vision

• New floaters, especially in large amounts

• Tunnel vision

• Dimmed or veiled vision

It’s important to seek emergency care right away if these symptoms occur. Without prompt treatment, a detached retina can lead to permanent vision loss.

7. Eye infection

It isn’t common, but endophthalmitis (an infection of the fluid inside your eye) can happen after a Vabysmo injection. Your prescriber will use a disinfectant eyewash to clean your eye prior to injecting Vabysmo to help prevent this side effect. Be sure not to wear makeup to your appointment, and follow your prescriber’s aftercare instructions to further reduce the risk of infection.

Symptoms of an eye infection can include:

• Pain

• Swelling

• Redness

• Excessive, thick, or yellow/green discharge (“eye boogers”)

• New floaters

• Blurry or reduced vision

Reach out to your eye care team if these symptoms occur. They can determine if an infection is to blame and prescribe antibiotics if needed.

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Written by:

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kentucky and is licensed in New York and Massachusetts.

Reviewed by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

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