Eylea and the newer Eylea HD are both injectable medications used to treat certain serious eye conditions caused by abnormal blood vessel growth or leakage.
These conditions include:
The main difference between the two versions is the concentration of the active drug aflibercept. Eylea HD delivers a higher dose, allowing for fewer injections over time compared to the original Eylea.
Note: Because Eylea HD has a higher concentration of active drug than Eylea and is typically received less frequently during the maintenance stage, the cost tends to be higher.
Here’s a breakdown of the primary differences in how often each drug is administered:
| Eylea | Eylea HD | |
|---|---|---|
| Dose strength | 2 milligrams (mg) | 8 mg |
| Initial dosing | three or five monthly doses (every 4 weeks) depending on the condition it’s being used to treat | three monthly doses (every 4 weeks) for all conditions it’s used to treat |
| Maintenance dosing | every 8 weeks (typically) | extended intervals: • every 8 to 16 weeks (for nAMD, DME) • every 8 to 12 weeks (for DR) |
The main reason for the extended dosing schedule of Eylea HD is its higher strength. The higher (8-mg) dose allows it to be given at much longer intervals (up to 4 months) in maintenance phases for conditions like nAMD and DME. This is compared to the standard 8-week maintenance schedule of Eylea 2 mg that was used in the drug’s studies.
The higher-dose Eylea HD shares many common side effects with the standard dose Eylea.
These include:
- cataract
- blurred vision
- increased eye pressure
- bleeding in the eye
However, how often certain side effects occurred sometimes differed in the drugs’ studies.
It’s also important to note that patients receiving Eylea HD treatment had a significantly lower risk of dangerous blood clots (which can cause nonfatal stroke or nonfatal heart attack) compared to those receiving standard-dose Eylea. In the wet AMD study, this serious complication happened in only 0.4% of the Eylea HD group versus 1.5% of the standard Eylea group.
Eylea and Eylea HD are injectable treatments for serious eye conditions like nAMD and diabetic eye disease.
The key difference is that Eylea HD uses a stronger dose (8 mg vs. 2 mg), allowing patients to receive fewer injections (up to every 16 weeks) after the initial treatment phase. This also means that Eylea HD usually costs more than standard Eylea.
It’s also important to note that Eylea HD has shown a lower risk of serious blood clots leading to nonfatal stroke and heart attack compared to standard Eylea.
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about how Eylea and Eylea HD compare.
Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.