Beovu (brolucizumab-dbll) can cause side effects that range from mild to serious. More common side effects include blurry vision and cataract. If side effects from Beovu become difficult to tolerate, talk with your doctor about coping tips or other treatment options.

Beovu is used in adults to treat:

Keep reading to learn about the common, mild, and serious side effects Beovu can cause.

Beovu can cause certain side effects, some more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. Talk with your doctor if side effects do not go away, get worse, or become too difficult for you to tolerate.

Beovu’s commonly reported side effects include:

  • blurry vision (see the “Tips for managing side effects” section)
  • cataract (a cloudy, dense spot in your eye lens)
  • conjunctival hemorrhage (broken blood vessels in the eye)
  • eye pain
  • eye floaters
  • redness and swelling in the eye

Mild side effects have been reported with Beovu. These include:

  • blurry vision (see the “Tips for managing side effects” section)
  • mild eye pain
  • eye floaters
  • conjunctival hemorrhage (broken blood vessels in the eye)
  • redness and swelling in the eye
  • cataract (a cloudy, dense spot in your eye lens)
  • retinal hemorrhage (bleeding in the retina)
  • conjunctivitis (pink eye)
  • atypical or unusual feeling in the eye
  • watery eyes

In most cases, these side effects should be temporary, and some may be easily managed. But if you have symptoms that are ongoing or bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Do not stop Beovu treatment unless your doctor recommends it.

Beovu may cause mild side effects other than those listed above. See the drug’s prescribing information for details.

Beovu may cause serious side effects. The following list may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Beovu’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects while receiving Beovu, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include:

  • endophthalmitis (severe inflammation inside the eye), which may include symptoms such as:
    • eye pain
    • vision loss
    • swelling in your eyelid
  • retinal vasculitis (inflamed blood vessels in the retina), which may include symptoms such as:
    • distorted vision, such as straight lines appearing wavy
    • burning sensation or pain in the eye
  • increased pressure in the eye, which usually doesn’t cause symptoms but may be noticed on an eye exam, and can lead to glaucoma over time without treatment
  • increased risk of blood clots in the body outside the eye, which may cause stroke or heart attack in rare cases
  • blindness
  • retinal vascular occlusion (blockage or blood clots in your retina)
  • retinal detachment

For more information about some of these side effects, see the “Tips for managing side effects” section.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medication safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while receiving Beovu and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Allergic reaction

For some people, Beovu can cause an allergic reaction.

In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should continue Beovu treatment.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Beovu, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

While receiving Beovu, you may be able to take steps to make side effects easier to manage.

If you have problems with side effects, they do not go away, or they become worse, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can discuss options for managing side effects or other available treatment options.

Blurry vision

Blurry vision was a common side effect reported in studies of Beovu. In most instances, this side effect is mild and temporary. Mild blurry vision should go away shortly (typically within a few hours at most) following a Beovu injection. You should avoid driving, operating machinery, or similar activities immediately following a Beovu injection until your vision returns as usual.

If you develop significantly blurry vision in the days or weeks following a Beovu injection, immediately contact your ophthalmologist or get urgent care. This change in vision could be a symptom of more serious side effects of Beovu, such as endophthalmitis or retinal detachment, which should be treated as soon as possible.

Retinal detachment

Retinal detachment was a rare side effect reported in studies of Beovu. Symptoms of this side effect include:

  • sudden vision changes, including blurry vision or partial or total vision loss
  • sudden flashes of light
  • sudden appearance of many floaters (small black flecks or strings floating in your vision)

Retinal detachment is a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment. Call your ophthalmologist right away if you experience sudden vision changes or other symptoms of retinal detachment following a Beovu injection.

Retinal vascular occlusion

Retinal vascular occlusion (blockage or blood clots in your retina) was a rare side effect reported in studies of Beovu. Symptoms of this side effect include:

  • sudden vision loss in the affected eye
  • loss of peripheral or side vision
  • blind spots in your vision
  • distorted vision, such as blurry vision

If you have symptoms of retinal vascular occlusion, immediately contact your ophthalmologist. They’ll likely stop your treatment with Beovu, and can recommend the best treatment for this side effect.

Beovu may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.

How do side effects of Beovu compare with those seen with Eylea or Lucentis?

Beovu, Eylea, and Lucentis are similar drugs. They’re all given as injections into the eye by a healthcare professional to treat wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic macular edema. (Lucentis and Eylea also have other approved uses).

Side effects across these medications are similar. Shared mild side effects include eye floaters and eye pain following the injection. Shared serious side effects include retinal detachment and endophthalmitis.

Talk with your eye doctor if you’d like to learn more about how Beovu compares with Eylea and Lucentis.

Is there a way to track vision changes during treatment with Beovu?

Yes. Your doctor may recommend at-home tools or tests to monitor your vision during treatment with Beovu. One example is an Amsler grid. The grid lines should appear straight to a healthy eye. If the grid lines appear wavy or you notice blind spots, immediately contact your eye doctor.

Your doctor will also likely periodically conduct eye exams to check your vision during Beovu treatment. Ask your doctor if you have questions or concerns about your vision. And, immediately contact your eye doctor if you develop symptoms of serious side effects of Beovu, such as sudden vision loss or blind spots in your vision.

Consider the following important information before receiving Beovu.

Other precautions

Before receiving Beovu, discuss your health history with your doctor. Beovu may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

  • current eye infection
  • current or past eye floaters (floating dark spots) or flashes of light in your vision
  • high eye pressure or glaucoma
  • have recently received eye surgery or have an upcoming eye surgery scheduled
  • previous allergic reaction to this or a similar drug
  • pregnancy
  • breastfeeding
  • alcohol consumption

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.