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For US Healthcare Professionals

Wet Age-related Macular Degeneration (wet AMD)

Learn about diabetic macular edema (DME)

Woman gardening

DME can impact how clearly you see. Fortunately, treatment is available.

Diabetic macular edema (DME) is a complication of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Both are common complications associated with diabetes. 

  • About 10% of people with diabetes will develop DME in their lifetime 
  • Consistently high blood sugar over time increases the risk of DME
  • If untreated, DME can lead to severe vision problems and even blindness
Central Vision Lines Color Light

Slide to see how DME may impact your vision:

Normal vision
Blurry or blind spots can appear in the center of your vision

Blurry or blind spots can appear in the center of your vision

Slide to see how DME may impact your vision:

Normal vision
Straight lines appear wavy

Straight lines appear wavy

Slide to see how DME may impact your vision:

Normal vision
Colors appear less vibrant

Colors appear less vibrant

Slide to see how DME may impact your vision:

Normal vision
Trouble seeing in low lighting

Trouble seeing in low lighting

HERE’S WHAT HAPPENS IN THE EYE WITH DME:

DME within the eye (graphic)
Letter A

Too much blood sugar damages blood vessels in the eye.

Letter B

The damaged blood vessels leak fluid into the macula—the part of the eye that controls sharp, straight-ahead vision.

Letter C

The macula swells, leading to blurred vision and vision loss.

There are 2 types of proteins in the eye that cause swelling.

VEGF and Ang-2*† are 2 proteins that can lead to vision loss in people with DME. These proteins allow the formation of abnormal and weakened blood vessels that can grow and leak fluid.

*Ang-2=angiopoietin-2; VEGF=vascular endothelial growth factor.
†The impact of blocking Ang-2 in people with DME is still being studied.

Other DME treatments target VEGF. VABYSMO blocks both VEGF and Ang-2.

LEARN HOW VABYSMO WORKS DIFFERENTLY

Other DME treatments target VEGF. VABYSMO blocks both VEGF and Ang-2.

LEARN HOW VABYSMO WORKS DIFFERENTLY

What is VABYSMO?

VABYSMO (faricimab-svoa) is a prescription medicine given by injection into the eye, used to treat adults with Neovascular (Wet) Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Diabetic Macular Edema (DME).

Do not receive VABYSMO if you:

  • have an infection in or around your eye. 
  • have active swelling around your eye that may include pain and redness. 
  • are allergic to VABYSMO or any of the ingredients in VABYSMO.

What is the most important information I should know about VABYSMO?

  • Injections like the one for VABYSMO can cause an eye infection (endophthalmitis) or separation of layers of the retina (retinal detachment). Call your healthcare provider right away if you have increasing eye pain, vision loss, sensitivity to light, or redness in the white of the eye.
  • VABYSMO may cause a temporary increase in pressure in the eye (intraocular pressure), which occurs 60 minutes after the injection. 
  • Although not common, VABYSMO patients have had serious, sometimes fatal, problems related to blood clots, such as heart attacks or strokes (thromboembolic events). In clinical studies for wet AMD during the first year, 7 out of 664 patients treated with VABYSMO reported such an event. In DME studies during the first year, 25 out of 1,262 patients treated with VABYSMO reported such an event.

Before receiving VABYSMO, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

  • Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Based on how VABYSMO interacts with your body, there may be a potential risk to your unborn baby. You should use birth control before your first injection, during your treatment with VABYSMO, and for 3 months after your last dose of VABYSMO. 
  • Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if VABYSMO passes into your breast milk. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you receive VABYSMO.
  • Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

What should I avoid while receiving VABYSMO? 

  • Your vision may be impaired after receiving an eye injection or after an eye exam; do not drive or use machinery until your vision has recovered sufficiently.  

What are the most common side effects with VABYSMO?

  • The most common side effect with VABYSMO was blood on the white of the eye (conjunctival hemorrhage).
  • These are not all the possible side effects of VABYSMO. 

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects to Genentech at 1-888-835-2555. 

Please see the VABYSMO full Prescribing Information for additional Important Safety Information.