OCEVA Injection 1's

Introduction About OCEVA INJECTION

Oceva 10 mg/mL Injection contains ranibizumab, an anti-VEGF medicine administered by an ophthalmologist into the eye. It is used for retinal conditions in which abnormal blood-vessel growth or leakage causes vision impairment, including wet age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular oedema, macular oedema following retinal vein occlusion, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and certain forms of choroidal neovascularisation. It may also be used in premature infants with retinopathy of prematurity when specifically indicated by a specialist.

Oceva is intended for patients whose retinal condition has been confirmed by an eye specialist and who require anti-VEGF therapy. The injection is not self-administered; it is given by a trained ophthalmologist under sterile conditions after appropriate eye preparation. The injection schedule depends on the retinal condition, response to therapy, and the specialist's treatment plan. Patients should attend scheduled eye examinations and monitoring visits, as repeated injections may be required.

Before administration, inform the ophthalmologist about any active eye infection, inflammation inside the eye, previous eye procedures, stroke or cardiovascular history, pregnancy, breastfeeding, allergies, and all medicines or supplements being used. The injection should not be administered when there is an active infection in or around the eye or severe intraocular inflammation. Temporary visual disturbances can occur after administration, so patients should avoid driving or operating machinery until vision has returned to normal.

During pregnancy, Oceva should be used only when the ophthalmologist considers that the expected benefit justifies potential fetal risk; women who could become pregnant should discuss appropriate contraception with their healthcare professional. Breastfeeding also requires specialist advice because human milk exposure and effects on the infant are not fully established. Commonly reported effects include eye pain or irritation, conjunctival bleeding, eye inflammation, increased eye pressure, floaters, dry eye, redness, itching, and temporary blurred vision. Persistent or worsening eye pain, redness, reduced vision, increased sensitivity to light, or other significant visual changes require prompt ophthalmic assessment.

Uses Of OCEVA INJECTION

• Diabetic eye disease
• Wet age-related macular degeneration
• Macular edema due to retinal vein occlusion
• Macular edema due to pathological myopia

Benefits of OCEVA INJECTION

Supports Retinal Health and Vision

• Helps reduce abnormal blood-vessel growth in the retina.
• Reduces leakage of fluid from abnormal retinal blood vessels.
• Helps reduce retinal swelling associated with VEGF activity.
• May help stabilize or improve visual acuity in appropriately selected patients.

Supports Management of Diabetic Retinal Conditions

• Helps reduce retinal fluid leakage associated with diabetic macular oedema.
• May improve visual function in patients with diabetic retinal disease when prescribed by an ophthalmologist.

Supports Management of Wet AMD and Retinal Vein Occlusion

• Helps limit abnormal blood-vessel activity associated with wet AMD.
• Helps reduce macular swelling associated with retinal vein occlusion.
• Supports preservation of central vision in suitable patients.

How OCEVA INJECTION Works

VEGF-A Blockade

• Ranibizumab is a humanized recombinant monoclonal antibody fragment targeting vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A).
• It binds VEGF-A with high affinity.
• This prevents VEGF-A from binding to its receptors, VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2, on vascular endothelial cells.

Reduced Abnormal Blood-Vessel Activity

• VEGF-A promotes abnormal blood-vessel growth and increases vascular permeability.
• By blocking VEGF-A, ranibizumab reduces abnormal vessel growth and leakage.
• Reduced leakage helps decrease fluid accumulation and swelling in the retina.

Overall Retinal Effect

• Less abnormal vascular leakage can reduce retinal oedema.
• Controlling abnormal vascular activity helps preserve retinal structure and visual function in the conditions for which ranibizumab is indicated.

How to use OCEVA INJECTION

• Oceva must be administered by a qualified ophthalmologist experienced in intravitreal injections; it must not be self-administered.
• Implant: It will be inserted into the white part of your eye with a needle by a doctor in a medical office or clinic.
• The injection is administered directly into the vitreous cavity of the affected eye under sterile conditions.
• Before administration, the eye is cleaned and a local anaesthetic is generally used to reduce discomfort.
• The exact dose and injection schedule depend on the retinal condition and the ophthalmologist's treatment plan.
• For adult ranibizumab products, a commonly recommended dose is 0.5 mg (0.05 mL) per intravitreal injection, with the interval between injections determined by the specialist and the specific indication.
• Regular retinal examinations and visual assessments are important because repeat injections may be required.
• Patients should attend every scheduled ophthalmology appointment, even when vision appears stable.
• Temporary blurred vision may occur after injection; do not drive or operate machinery until vision has returned to normal.

What if I forgot to take OCEVA INJECTION

If you miss a dose of Oceva 10mg/ml Injection, please consult your doctor.

Overdose

• Cases of accidental overdose have been reported from the clinical studies in wet AMD and post-marketing data.
• Adverse reactions associated with these reported cases were intraocular pressure increased, transient blindness, reduced visual acuity, corneal oedema, corneal pain, and eye pain.
• If an overdose occurs, intraocular pressure should be monitored and treated, if deemed necessary by the attending physician.

Side Effects Of OCEVA INJECTION

Common side effects of Oceva

• Conjunctival hemorrhage
• Eye pain
• Increased intraocular pressure
• Foreign body sensation in eyes
• Blurred vision
• Nausea
• Dry eye
• Eye itching
• Cataract
• Vitreous floaters
• Vitreous detachment
• Intraocular inflammation
• Eye irritation
• Increased lacrimation
• Eyelid inflammation
• Ocular hyperemia
• Retinal disorder
• Maculopathy
• Eye discomfort
• Posterior capsule opacification
• Injection site hemorrhage
• Nasopharyngitis (inflammation of the throat and nasal passages)
• Anemia (low number of red blood cells)
• Joint pain
• Renal failure
• Peripheral neuropathy (tingling and numbness of feet and hand)
• Gastro-esophageal reflux disease
• Hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol)
• Bronchitis (inflammation of the airways)

Warning & Precautions

Pregnancy

Consult your doctor

Ranibizumab should generally not be used during pregnancy unless the expected benefit clearly outweighs the potential risk to the fetus. There are limited clinical data on exposure during pregnancy.

Women who could become pregnant should use effective contraception during therapy and for at least 3 months after the last injection according to the product information.  Women planning pregnancy should discuss the timing of treatment with their ophthalmologist.

Breastfeeding

Contraindicated

Breastfeeding is not recommended during ranibizumab therapy as limited information suggests that small amounts may pass into human milk, while the effect on a breastfed infant is not established

Driving and Using Machines

Use with Caution

Temporary blurred vision or other visual disturbances can occur after the intravitreal injection. Do not drive, cycle, or operate machinery until vision has returned to normal.

Arrange transportation home after the injection when appropriate, particularly if both eyes are being managed or vision is significantly affected.

Alcohol

Consult your doctor

No specific clinically significant alcohol interaction with intravitreal ranibizumab is established. 

Kidney

Consult your doctor

Dose adjustment is generally not required in renal impairment.  

Liver

Consult your doctor

Ranibizumab has not been formally studied in patients with hepatic impairment, but no special dose adjustment is generally considered necessary based on available product information.

Allergy

Contraindicated

Do not receive Oceva 10mg/ml Injection if you are allergic to any of its components, if you have an infection in or around the eye, severe intraocular inflammation (pain or redness in the eye)

Heart Disease

Monitoring required

Because VEGF inhibition may potentially affect vascular function, patients with a history of stroke, transient ischemic attack, myocardial infarction, or other serious cardiovascular disease should inform their ophthalmologist before therapy.

Patients should be monitored according to their underlying cardiovascular risk and the specific retinal condition. Seek urgent medical attention for symptoms suggestive of a stroke or other major cardiovascular event, such as sudden weakness, difficulty speaking, severe chest discomfort, or sudden shortness of breath.

Use In Pediatrics

Consult your doctor

Use in children and adolescents depends on the specific indication. For most adult retinal indications, safety and efficacy in patients below 18 years have not been established.

Use In Geriatrics

Consult your doctor

No specific dose adjustment is generally required in elderly patients. Older adults may have multiple eye and cardiovascular conditions, so the ophthalmologist should review their complete medical history and medicines.

Patients older than 75 years may have more limited clinical experience for some indications, so individualized monitoring is appropriate.

Drug - Drug interaction

Other Anti-VEGF Medicines

• Concurrent use of other anti-VEGF medicines, whether ocular or systemic, is generally not recommended unless specifically directed by a retinal specialist.
• Combining anti-VEGF therapies may increase overall exposure to VEGF inhibition and has limited clinical evidence.

Verteporfin Photodynamic Therapy

• Ranibizumab has been used alongside verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT) for some retinal conditions.
• This combination should be planned and monitored by an ophthalmologist because intraocular inflammation has been reported when the therapies are used together.

Laser Photocoagulation

• Ranibizumab may be used in combination with laser photocoagulation in selected retinal conditions.
• The timing and suitability of combined therapy should be determined by the treating ophthalmologist.

Thiazolidinediones

• Clinical studies in diabetic macular oedema found that concomitant use of thiazolidinediones did not significantly alter visual-acuity or retinal-thickness outcomes with ranibizumab.
• Examples include pioglitazone and rosiglitazone.

Medicines Affecting Bleeding

Oceva does not have a well-established direct interaction with blood thinners, but patients taking medicines that affect bleeding should inform their ophthalmologist because intravitreal injection itself can cause ocular bleeding.

Examples include:

• Warfarin
• Apixaban
• Rivaroxaban
• Aspirin
• Clopidogrel
• Ticagrelor

Do not stop these medicines before an eye injection unless the prescribing doctor specifically advises it.

Synopsis

More Information

1. The 10 mg/mL Strength Is a Concentration, Not the Usual Adult Injected Dose

Oceva is supplied at a concentration of 10 mg/mL, but the amount injected into the eye is much smaller than 1 mL. For the common adult ranibizumab dose of 0.5 mg, the corresponding volume is 0.05 mL. The exact dose depends on the indication and specialist's prescription.

This distinction is particularly useful on e-pharmacy product pages because patients may otherwise assume that the entire 1 mL volume is injected.

2. Vision Can Fluctuate After an Injection

Temporary blurred vision or visual disturbance can occur following intravitreal administration. Patients should arrange appropriate transport when necessary and avoid driving until vision has returned to normal.

3. Eye Pressure May Need Monitoring

Intravitreal ranibizumab can cause a temporary increase in intraocular pressure (IOP) immediately after injection. Ophthalmologists may therefore check eye pressure before and/or after administration, particularly in patients with glaucoma or other risk factors.

4. Injection Technique Is a Major Safety Factor

Because the medicine is injected directly into the eye, sterile technique is essential. Serious complications such as endophthalmitis and retinal detachment are recognized risks of intravitreal injections. Patients should promptly report increasing eye pain, redness, worsening vision, new floaters, or increased sensitivity to light.

5. Cardiovascular History Matters

VEGF inhibition may be associated with a potential risk of arterial thromboembolic events, including stroke and myocardial infarction. Patients with a history of stroke, transient ischemic attack, or recent cardiovascular events should ensure that their ophthalmologist has this information before treatment.

6. Treatment Usually Requires Ongoing Eye Monitoring

Ranibizumab is not generally a one-time injection for chronic retinal conditions. The ophthalmologist may repeat treatment based on visual acuity, retinal findings, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and disease activity. The interval between injections is individualized according to the indication and response.

FAQs About OCEVA INJECTION

References

1. Ranibizumab. StatPearls. National Library of Medicine. National Center for Biotechnology Information. July 2023. [Accessed on 20th August 2026]. 
2. Ranibizumab. Lucentis 10 mg/ml solution for injection in pre-filled syringe. EMC. UK. Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Ltd. [Revised in February 2023]. [Accessed on 20th August 2026]. 

Author Details

Written By Srilekha. R - B.Pharm

Reviewed For Accuracy By Dr. M.Umadevi - MBBS, ENT

Last updated on 30 Oct 2024 | 05:45 PM(IST)