Starting SYFOVRE

If you have geographic atrophy (GA), talk to your retina specialist to see if SYFOVRE is right for you. They can tell you more about how to get started.

SYFOVRE is a prescription eye injection, used to treat GA, the dry advanced form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

SYFOVRE is the longest-studied FDA-approved treatment for GA.

It’s important to know that GA cannot be cured, and the damage cannot be reversed. However, slowing lesion growth can slow disease progression.

SYFOVRE is the only therapy FDA-approved to treat GA in as few as 6 doses a year. Your retina specialist will decide how often you receive SYFOVRE (once every 25 to 60 days). Talk to your retina specialist about which treatment schedule may be right for you.

Stay on SYFOVRE as long as your retina specialist recommends so it can continue to slow the damage to your eyes caused by GA.

SYFOVRE is an eye injection given in-office by a retina specialist who will numb your eye beforehand.

During your appointment, your retina specialist will prepare you to receive SYFOVRE by numbing your eye. They will then inject SYFOVRE. After each injection or eye exam, your vision may be impaired; do not drive or use machinery until your vision recovers.

You can sign up for a live or virtual event to hear from other people taking SYFOVRE and hear their real GA stories.

What is the most important information to know about SYFOVRE?

Do not receive SYFOVRE if you have an infection, or active swelling in or around your eye that may include pain and redness.

SYFOVRE can cause serious side effects:

  • Eye infection (endophthalmitis) or separation of layers of the retina (retinal detachment)
    • Call your healthcare provider right away if you have eye redness, light sensitivity, eye pain, or any change in vision including blurred, wavy/distorted vision, small specks floating in your vision, or flashing lights
  • Severe inflammation of vessels in the retina which may result in severe vision loss. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have eye redness, light sensitivity, eye pain, or any change in vision including blurred, wavy/distorted vision, or flashing lights
  • Risk of developing wet AMD. You should be monitored for signs of wet AMD and you should report if you have any change in vision including blurred, wavy/distorted vision, black spots, or loss of central vision to your healthcare provider
  • Episodes of eye inflammation. You should report any symptoms including eye redness, light sensitivity, eye pain, small specks floating in your vision, or any changes in vision to your healthcare provider
  • Increase in eye pressure within minutes of the injection. Your healthcare provider will monitor this after each injection

The most common side effects with SYFOVRE are:

  • Eye discomfort
  • Wet age-related macular degeneration
  • Small specks floating in vision
  • Blood in the white of the eye

These are not all possible side effects of SYFOVRE. Tell your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

After a SYFOVRE injection or an eye exam, your eyesight may temporarily be impaired. Do not drive or use machinery until your vision recovers.

Please plan to have a ride to and from your appointment.

SYFOVRE appointments

It’s a good plan to read SYFOVRE materials you receive from your eye doctor. If you did not receive any materials, please visit the Getting Started on SYFOVRE page for more information.

You can also stay informed about SYFOVRE by signing up for emails here.
If you still have questions, write them down to ask your retina specialist during your appointment.

Your vision may be impaired after receiving a SYFOVRE injection or after an eye exam so you may want to have someone with you to drive you home.

If an injection is missed, call your retina specialist. They will determine when you should receive your next injection.