Avastin silicone injection and floaters

[2see]

Can the silicone molecules buildup and form floaters over a time frame ? I had 5 series of avastin injections. I mentioned thefloaters I am experiencing now to my Dr. before the injection two days ago and he said it was the silicone . He asked if I wanted to change to Eylea. I did not know that they were using silicone injectables. Of course I wanted to change! Do the floaters show up rapidly after injection or can the residue collect over time? It seems unconscionable for this product to be used to aggravate conditions already dire. I urge anyone getting avastin injections to find out if they are using silicone injections. If you have floaters due to this did they occur immediately? How long have you had them. ? Please describe the severity and if they got worse between injections. Have they gone away orlessonedfor anyone ? At this point mine are minimal butI have enough issues without them. I have wet amd in both eyes.

[MikeG1944]

Hi 2see; the injections are not silicon in themselves, it is the tiny amount of silicon oil used to lubricate the inside of the needle; although they should be using a needle that does not contain any silicon, hence the class action in the USA.

I'm in the UK and they apparently do occasionally use those needles here. I got a small silicon bubble on my first injection of Eylea but have had no subsequent problems with the other 3 injections.

The Elea injections have almost completely cured my small amount of WetAMD I had in one eye so I am personally OK with living with a small floater that occasionally appears.

[Hidden]

If there is silicone on the needles then the WRONG syringes are being used. That is not acceptable. Those syringes are intended for use by diabetics.

The silicone does not dissipate and I presume that it would need a vitrectomy to remove it.

Horrendous.

Silicone droplets should not be confused with air bubbles which are quite common, harmless and dissipate usually over a matter of hours.

[No2020 in reply to Hidden]

Yes, the syringes which don’t need the silicone lubricant are available. It’s all about the bottom line: they cost more.

Has anyone had a vitrectomy? My doctor says it could be done if it “ really got to be intolerable”

Warned me of risks involved and imperfect success rate. I am 80 and diabetic.

[Hidden]

I do see floaters after I started the Aviastin injections, I was told it debris . They did become less although did not go away completely . I see them most in bright or white backgrounds.

[2see in reply to Hidden]

I wonder if "debris" is actually silicon? Can a specialist see residue and tell if it is silicon or matter that is supposed to be there ? Knowing why one has floaters would be helpful...and whether they might go away or get worse. Thanks for your reply

[No2020]

I experienced floaters after most injections Going on 4+ yrs now. 6 to t weeks apart. They disappeared ( out of field of vision) to the bottom of the eye after several days, sometimes a week or even two.

After an injection in 2/2017, a very large floater, shaped like an olive slice, dark rim and bright white/neon center remained.

I still have it to this day.

It is beyond annoying, gets double in size when I bend over, and brighter in sunshine, even with sunglasses.

My doctor switched me to Lucentis right away.

I reported it to the FDA and was asked for much information. It took a long time. Nobody seemed very eager to be forthcoming.

I dealt with the drug manufacturer and the compounding lab. I have the lot number of the vials, the info on the silicone oil used to coat the needle, the manufacturer of the syringe. Now I am waiting for the FDA to run this through their database to see whether there were any other reports on a remaining silicone droplet.

Have been waiting for a month now.

I will NOT give up. Somebody at that compounding lab messed up... I am Convinced of that.

[2see in reply to No2020]

Don't give up. The specialists should not use those syringes period. We need to contact government officials and or join class action suits if applicable to stop this dangerous unnecessary complication.

[Hidden in reply to No2020]

The “olive ring”or doughnut as I have seen it described was reported on another site as being a silicone droplet. Perhaps yours is the same.

[Aude]

Google "Avastin and silicone" for a list of class action lawsuits. I see 866-588-0600 and 866-920-0753 numbers listed for information regarding an Avastin/Silicone class action lawsuit. It may be of interest to you and pertinent to your case.

[Janbeach]

I am on the Avastan injections. I’ve had 5 now and the floaters just started a couple of weeks ago. Mine are black squares with white centers. They go from a few larger ones to around 8-10 smaller ones. They are terribly annoying, I am in America. I plan to ask about the needles at my next appt, in about 7 weeks. I was warned about white flashes of light, to call immediately, but not these floaters.

[bloodshoteye]

I'm going in for my 4th Avastin shot next week, and plan to ask my doctor about the silicone issue too. Thanks for raising my awareness. I think we all have enough problems with macular degeneration without unnecessarily risking more floaters! In the US the insurance plans always want to cheap out the drugs, so compounded Avastin is preferred. Maybe at the expense of our vision in the long run.

[Horsey3028]

I have a lot of floaters after my first and only injection of avastin 15 months ago. Dr said it was age (I'm 40), but I don't have any floaters in my other eye that is healthy. How can you tell the difference between floaters and silicone?

[jba249]

My silicone disc appeared right after the Avastin injection. It's circular with a black rim around a shine white center. I've had this since Feb. 2019.

[Macsoccer422]

Any updates. Did any of yours go away. I have some too.