What is Ranibizumab: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects and More

Ranibizumab is a prescription medication that doctors inject directly into your eye to treat certain vision problems. This specialized treatment helps slow down or stop the growth of abnormal blood vessels in your retina, which can cause serious vision loss if left untreated.

The medication belongs to a class of drugs called anti-VEGF agents, which work by blocking a protein that promotes the growth of these problematic blood vessels. While the idea of an eye injection might sound concerning, this treatment has helped millions of people preserve their sight and, in some cases, even improve their vision.

What is Ranibizumab Used For?

Ranibizumab treats several serious eye conditions that involve abnormal blood vessel growth or fluid buildup in the retina. Your doctor might recommend this medication if you have wet age-related macular degeneration, which is the leading cause of severe vision loss in people over 50.

The medication also helps people with diabetic macular edema, a complication of diabetes where fluid builds up in the center of your retina. This condition can make your central vision blurry or distorted, making it hard to read, drive, or see faces clearly.

Additionally, ranibizumab treats diabetic retinopathy, another diabetes-related eye problem where high blood sugar damages blood vessels in your retina. Some doctors also use it for macular edema caused by retinal vein occlusion, which happens when blood vessels in your retina become blocked.

How Does Ranibizumab Work?

Ranibizumab works by blocking a specific protein called VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) that your body produces when it needs to grow new blood vessels. In healthy eyes, this process is carefully controlled, but in certain eye diseases, your body makes too much VEGF.

When there's excess VEGF, it causes abnormal blood vessels to grow in places they shouldn't be, particularly in your retina. These new blood vessels are often weak and leaky, causing fluid to build up and potentially leading to bleeding that can damage your vision.

By blocking VEGF, ranibizumab helps stop this abnormal blood vessel growth and reduces fluid leakage. This allows your retina to function better and can help stabilize or even improve your vision. The medication is considered moderately strong and highly targeted, working specifically on the problem areas in your eye.

How Should I Take Ranibizumab?

Ranibizumab is given as an injection directly into your eye, which your eye doctor will perform in their office or an outpatient clinic. You won't need to take anything by mouth or prepare with special foods or drinks before your appointment.

Before the injection, your doctor will clean your eye thoroughly and apply numbing drops to make the procedure comfortable. They'll also use antiseptic drops to prevent infection. The actual injection takes just a few seconds, and most people describe it as feeling like brief pressure rather than pain.

After the injection, you'll need someone to drive you home since your vision might be temporarily blurry. Your doctor will give you specific instructions about eye care for the next day or two, which typically includes using antibiotic eye drops and avoiding rubbing your eye.

How Long Should I Take Ranibizumab For?

The length of your ranibizumab treatment depends on your specific eye condition and how well you respond to the medication. Most people start with monthly injections for the first few months, then the frequency may be adjusted based on how your eyes are healing.

For wet age-related macular degeneration, you might need injections every month or every other month for several months or even years. Your doctor will monitor your progress with regular eye exams and special imaging tests to determine the best schedule for you.

Some people with diabetic eye problems may need ongoing treatment to keep their condition stable, while others might be able to take breaks between injections. Your eye doctor will work with you to find the treatment pattern that gives you the best results with the fewest injections possible.

What Are the Side Effects of Ranibizumab?

Like all medications, ranibizumab can cause side effects, though most people tolerate the treatment well. The most common side effects are mild and temporary, affecting your eye or vision for a short time after the injection.

Here are the side effects you might experience, starting with the most common ones that usually resolve on their own:

• Temporary eye redness or irritation that typically lasts a day or two
• Mild eye pain or discomfort, similar to having something in your eye
• Temporary increase in eye pressure that your doctor will monitor
• Small spots or "floaters" in your vision that usually disappear within a few days
• Temporary blurred vision immediately after the injection
• Feeling like your eye is dry or scratchy

These common side effects are usually mild and improve within a few days as your eye adjusts to the medication.

While less common, some people may experience more noticeable side effects that require attention:

• Significant eye pain that doesn't improve with over-the-counter pain relievers
• Persistent redness or swelling that gets worse instead of better
• Changes in vision that last longer than a few days
• Increased sensitivity to light that interferes with daily activities
• Discharge from the eye that could indicate infection

Rare but serious side effects can occur, though they affect fewer than 1 in 100 people. These include serious eye infections, severe increases in eye pressure, retinal detachment, or significant vision loss. While these complications are uncommon, they require immediate medical attention.

Very rarely, some people may experience side effects affecting other parts of their body, such as stroke or heart problems, though the risk is much lower with eye injections compared to medications taken by mouth.

Who Should Not Take Ranibizumab?

Ranibizumab isn't suitable for everyone, and your doctor will carefully evaluate whether it's safe for you. You shouldn't receive this medication if you're allergic to ranibizumab or any of its ingredients, or if you have an active infection in or around your eye.

Your doctor will want to know about your complete medical history before starting treatment. People with certain heart conditions, recent strokes, or blood clotting disorders may need special monitoring or might not be good candidates for this treatment.

If you're pregnant or trying to become pregnant, discuss this with your doctor, as ranibizumab could potentially harm an unborn baby. Women who are breastfeeding should also talk with their healthcare provider about the risks and benefits.

People with uncontrolled high blood pressure or recent eye surgery may need to wait or receive additional treatment before starting ranibizumab. Your eye doctor will also check for any signs of infection or inflammation that need to be treated first.

Ranibizumab Brand Names

Ranibizumab is available under the brand name Lucentis, which is the most commonly prescribed version of this medication. This is the original formulation that has been extensively studied and used for many years.

There's also a newer option called Byooviz, which is a biosimilar version of ranibizumab. Biosimilars are medications that work essentially the same way as the original drug but are made by different companies and typically cost less.

Your doctor will choose the most appropriate version based on your specific condition, insurance coverage, and other factors. Both versions work the same way and have similar effectiveness and safety profiles.

Ranibizumab Alternatives

Several other medications work similarly to ranibizumab for treating eye conditions involving abnormal blood vessel growth. Aflibercept (Eylea) is another anti-VEGF medication that's often used for the same conditions and may require fewer injections.

Bevacizumab (Avastin) is sometimes used off-label for eye conditions, though it was originally developed for cancer treatment. Some eye doctors prefer it because it's less expensive, but it's not specifically approved for eye use.

Newer options include brolucizumab (Beovu) and faricimab (Vabysmo), which may last longer between injections for some people. Your eye doctor will help you understand which option might work best for your specific situation and lifestyle.

The choice between these medications depends on factors like your specific eye condition, how your eyes respond to treatment, your insurance coverage, and how often you can come in for injections.

Is Ranibizumab Better Than Aflibercept?

Both ranibizumab and aflibercept are excellent treatments for eye conditions involving abnormal blood vessel growth, and studies show they work similarly well for most people. The choice between them often comes down to individual factors rather than one being definitively better than the other.

Aflibercept may last longer between injections for some people, potentially requiring shots every 6-8 weeks instead of monthly. This can be more convenient if you have trouble getting to frequent appointments or if you want fewer procedures overall.

However, ranibizumab has been used longer and has more extensive research backing its safety and effectiveness. Some people respond better to one medication than the other, and your doctor might try both to see which works best for you.

Your eye doctor will consider factors like your specific eye condition, lifestyle, insurance coverage, and how your eyes respond to treatment when choosing between these options.