Avastin mandated as first drug to try by my insurance-caused silicone floater

[TFrog22]

I HAVE to try Avastin first due to my insurance mandating a "proven fail"...for each eye. I have to try 3 injections. The first one for my right eye gave my a permanent silicone floater the shape of a comet directly in my line of sight. I am beside myself and furious when I was told it was permanent and my brain would learn to adapt.

[alison-g]

Happened to me too. They wanted $4000.00 dollars per injection for lucentis but the onsurance co. Payed for avastin. As it turns out the floaters are from silicone on the syringe . They use the wrong syringes. I got every side effect possible from avastin so I no longer get injections. The improvement is temporary anyway.

[Retired130 in reply to alison-g]

Wow, $4000 per injection for Lucentis. I am in the US and I get an Eylea injection every 7 to 8 weeks. The Eylea cost, according to my insurance statements, is just under $2,000. My insurance plus a small grant from a foundation I was directed to by the company making Eylea pays for most of it, but the grant from the foundation is income based & at $30,000 yearly income, I qualify.

I priced out Lucentis on my insurance company's website & it priced out at $1, 918 .80 for the 0.05ml dose (the stronger of the 2 choices available), so I don't understand why the cost quoted to you is so much. Maybe some of it is shipping costs if you are not in the USA. My cost after insurance would be $633.20 without using any grant or foundation help.

[alison-g in reply to Retired130]

I'm in the US. I was also directed to apply to a "charity" (my doctor's word for it)which I researched and found out it is, as I suspected, a "non-profit" offshoot of the company that manufactures lucentis, proving that these prices are total BS. I was quoted $4000.00 per injection but told that this "charity" would pay for a portion of that...so it's win-win for pharma I guess...they still get your money AND a tax exempt non-profit which they also benefit from.....disgusting.....I took my money and for less than $200 I bought a microcurrent device from New Zealand. I stopped injections and went for an exam to get a baseline, then used the machine for a month along with supplements. After the first month I went back to get another exam and my eye (BRVO) had improved and I was told an injection would not be necessary at that time. I don't get any injections anymore.

[Retired130 in reply to alison-g]

I would like more info on the microcurrent device you bought & are using. If you could reply with a website or the official name of the device, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

[alison-g in reply to Retired130]

altered-states.net/barry/ne... There's the link. The product is at the bottom of the page. Unfortunately, they have updated the device and it's a lot more money now....although still well worth it in my opinion.

[alison-g in reply to alison-g]

BTW don't get scared by the price in NZ dollars unless you are in New Zealand. The price in US is there too.

[Retired130 in reply to alison-g]

Thanks for taking the time to post this info. I will be checking into this.

[Retired130]

As alison-g stated, the silicone is from the syringe, not from the Avastin. Silicone coated syringes are ONLY supposed to be used for diabetics whose diabetes is not under the best of control. If you are not a severe diabetic, you MUST tell the doctor or assistant giving the injection that silicone coated syringes must not be used. Also, even though it may be put in your records, EVERY TIME, before you get an injection, inform them they are NOT to use silicone coated syringes.

Unfortunately, from what I have heard, once the silicone is in the eye, it most likely is never going away.

[MikeG1944 in reply to Retired130]

It is possible to remove the silicon droplet by a process similar to an injection where a very fine tube is put into the eye and it sucks out the droplet after they search for it. I have a very small one but decided not to ask for it to be done as it hardly ever notices. A large one would probably be worth doing.

[Spottedog in reply to MikeG1944]

I agree the silicone is from using the wrong syringe. I’m so sorry for your experience . I too get Eyelea by grant and insurance in the U.S. I would talk to your eye care provider and list your concerns.

[kevinaki]

There are class action lawsuits re: this, google "avastin silicone floaters."

For removal of silicone floaters click below:

aao.org/1-minute-video/remo...

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[TFrog22]

From the research I've done, I can only find issues with silicone coated syringes and Avastin. I could be wrong. Good to know there may be a slight chance the floater may be treated.

[enopmar]

I got a permanent silicone floater from Eylea.

[kevinaki in reply to enopmar]

A permanent silicone floater is caused by an injector using a diabetic syringe instead of a syringe for the eye . . . . .

[enopmar in reply to kevinaki]

The injectors come with the drug,I was told.