What are the side effects of izervay?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Izervay (avacincaptad pegol) is an injectable medication used to treat geographic atrophy secondary to age-related macular degeneration. Common side effects after injection may include eye pain, redness, blurred vision, or inflammation, which are typically temporary and resolve on their own. However, more serious complications such as endophthalmitis, retinal detachment, or increased eye pressure can occur in rare cases. Patients should follow their doctor's post-injection care instructions closely and promptly report any unusual or worsening eye symptoms.

If you're experiencing eye discomfort or vision changes and aren't sure whether it's a normal side effect or something more serious, don't guess. Take a free, instant, online symptom check to better understand what may be going on and get clear guidance on your next steps—so you can act quickly if care is needed.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/15/2026

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Explanation

Izervay is a treatment given by injection into the eye to help slow the vision loss seen in geographic atrophy. In research studies, some people experienced side effects after their injection. The most common side effects were eye pain and a red or irritated eye.

Some people also had mild inflammation inside the eye or a little bleeding near the injection spot. These reactions are similar to what some may feel after other eye injections. For many, these side effects were short-lived and got better on their own or with extra care from their doctor. It is important to remember that while this treatment can help protect your vision, any eye treatment might come with some discomfort.

If you notice worsening pain, significant redness, or changes in vision, you should check your symptoms and contact your doctor right away. Your doctor will check your eyes to make sure everything is healing as it should and may suggest treatments like drops or medicines to help manage these side effects.

(References)

Khanani AM, Patel SS, Staurenghi G, Tadayoni R, Danzig CJ, Eichenbaum DA, Hsu J, Wykoff CC, Heier JS, Lally DR, Monés J, Nielsen JS, Sheth VS, Kaiser PK, Clark J, Zhu L, Patel H, Tang J, Desai D, Jaffe GJ; GATHER2 trial investigators. Efficacy and safety of avacincaptad pegol in patients with geographic atrophy (GATHER2): 12-month results from a randomised, double-masked, phase 3 trial. Lancet. 2023 Oct 21;402(10411):1449-1458. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01583-0. Epub 2023 Sep 8. PMID: 37696275.
Shakeel L, Khan A, Akilimali A. "Izervay (avacincaptad pegol): paving the way for vision preservation in geographic atrophy". Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2024 Apr 3;86(5):2413-2416. doi: 10.1097/MS9.0000000000002021. PMID: 38694318; PMCID: PMC11060312.

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