ranibizumab at a glance
Medicine class
Anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody fragment
How it is given
Injection into the vitreous of the eye by a trained ophthalmology professional
Main role
Treats retinal leakage, swelling or abnormal blood-vessel growth that impairs vision
Driving
Do not drive or use machinery while vision remains temporarily disturbed after treatment
What is ranibizumab used for?
The selected UK product is licensed in adults for:
Neovascular, or wet, age-related macular degeneration
Visual impairment caused by diabetic macular oedema
Proliferative diabetic retinopathy
Visual impairment caused by macular oedema following branch or central retinal vein occlusion
Visual impairment caused by choroidal neovascularisation, including that associated with pathological myopia
How does ranibizumab work?
Ranibizumab binds vascular endothelial growth factor A, known as VEGF-A. Blocking VEGF-A reduces signalling that promotes abnormal blood-vessel growth and leakage, helping to reduce retinal fluid and limit further vision damage.
ranibizumab preparations and strengths
Injection
Route: Parenteral
Strengths: 10 mg/mL
How to take ranibizumab
Ranibizumab is not self-administered. An ophthalmology specialist injects it into the eye using local anaesthetic and aseptic technique.
Tell the eye team about eye or surrounding infection, severe eye inflammation, recent major illness, pregnancy, breastfeeding and all medicines you use.
Routine food and drink do not usually need to be changed for an intravitreal injection.
Vision may be blurred temporarily; do not drive or use machinery until it has cleared.
ranibizumab side effects
Common or expected effects
- Bloodshot eye or a small bleed on the white of the eye
- Eye soreness, irritation, grittiness, itching or a foreign-body sensation
- Temporary blurred vision, floaters or visual disturbance
- Eye pain or watering
- Temporary or sustained increase in eye pressure
- Headache or joint pain
Get urgent medical advice
- Increasing pain, redness, light sensitivity or worsening vision, which may indicate infection or severe inflammation
- Sudden marked visual change, a curtain-like shadow, flashes or increasing floaters, which may indicate a retinal tear or detachment
- Severe allergic reaction
- Symptoms of stroke or heart attack; arterial thromboembolic events are a theoretical anti-VEGF class risk
ranibizumab in pregnancy
Clinical pregnancy evidence is lacking. Despite low systemic exposure after eye injection, ranibizumab is considered potentially harmful to embryo-foetal development and should only be used when the specialist considers the expected benefit greater than the potential risk. Discuss pregnancy, plans to conceive and contraception with the ophthalmology team before treatment.
ranibizumab while breastfeeding
Very limited evidence suggests that small amounts may enter breast milk, and effects on a breastfed infant are unknown. The product information recommends avoiding breastfeeding during treatment; discuss the individual balance of eye treatment and infant feeding with the specialist team.
ranibizumab interactions
Formal medicine-interaction studies have not been performed. Important treatment combinations include:
Other anti-VEGF treatments, whether ocular or systemic
Ranibizumab should not be administered concurrently because combined VEGF inhibition has not been established as safe.
Verteporfin photodynamic therapy
There is no experience of concomitant use for choroidal neovascularisation caused by pathological myopia, so specialist planning is required.
Thiazolidinediones
Clinical studies in diabetic macular oedema found no apparent effect on ranibizumab visual or retinal-thickness outcomes.
Common questions about ranibizumab
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What eye conditions is ranibizumab used for?
It is licensed for several adult retinal disorders involving abnormal blood vessels, leakage or swelling, including wet age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular oedema, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, retinal-vein-occlusion-related macular oedema and choroidal neovascularisation.
Is ranibizumab a steroid?
No. It is a biological antibody fragment that blocks VEGF-A; it is not a corticosteroid.
How is ranibizumab injected?
A trained ophthalmology professional injects it through the white of the eye into the vitreous after local anaesthetic and antiseptic preparation.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.