Ranibizumab

Ranibizumab is injected into the eye to treat wet age-related macular degeneration and other conditions that cause leaky blood vessels in the eye.

Type of medicine

Anti-VEGF eye injection

Also known as

Lucentis, Byooviz, Ongavia, Ximluci

Comes as

injection into the eye

How you get it

Given in hospital or by a specialist team

What it is used for

Wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD)
Diabetic macular oedema and diabetic retinopathy
Swelling caused by a blocked vein in the eye
Abnormal blood vessels caused by severe short-sightedness
Retinopathy of prematurity in babies

Read our guides:

Macular degeneration

Off-label uses

Doctors sometimes prescribe a medicine for a condition it is not officially licensed for. This is called off-label use. It is legal and common when there is good evidence it helps, and your doctor should explain why they are suggesting it.

Ranibizumab is not commonly used off-label.

How it works

Ranibizumab blocks vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a protein that causes abnormal blood vessels to grow and leak at the back of the eye. This helps protect your central vision.

Side effects

Like all medicines, Ranibizumab can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. Many are mild and ease after the first few weeks.

Common side effects

a red or bloodshot eye
eye pain or discomfort
floaters
blurred vision for a short time

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if these bother you or do not go away.

Serious side effects

These are rare. Call 111 or contact your doctor straight away if you get:

increasing eye pain, redness, sensitivity to light or worsening vision after an injection, which can be signs of infection
flashing lights or a curtain over your vision

Call 999 if you have signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as swelling of your lips, mouth, throat or tongue, or trouble breathing.

You can report any side effect to the Yellow Card scheme, run by the medicines regulator.

Stopping and withdrawal

Important safety information

Go to eye casualty or call 111 straight away if your eye becomes painful or your vision worsens.
Do not drive straight after an injection.

Questions about your medicine?

A pharmacist can answer questions about your medicines for free, without an appointment. You can also ask your GP for a medication review. Check if you can get free prescriptions.