What has NICE said?
Aflibercept (Eylea) is recommended as a possible treatment for people with visual impairment caused by macular oedema after branch retinal vein occlusion.
If you have visual impairment as described above, and your doctor thinks that aflibercept is the right treatment, you should be able to have it on the NHS.
Aflibercept should be available on the NHS within 3 months.
The condition and the treatment
The macula is the central part of the retina at the back of the eye. When a retinal vein becomes blocked (called retinal vein occlusion), blood can leak into the macula causing it to swell. This is known as macular oedema and can affect sight. There are 2 types of blockage depending on which part of the vein is blocked: central or branch retinal vein occlusion.
Aflibercept is given by injection into the eye. It works by blocking the substances that stimulate the growth of the abnormal blood vessels at the back of the eye.
NHS Choices may be a good place to find out more.
These organisations can give you advice and support:
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Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), 0303 123 9999
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Macular Society, 0300 3030 111
NICE is not responsible for the quality or accuracy of any information or advice provided by these organisations.