It’s important to be aware of retinal diseases for which risk increases with age, including wet age-related macular degeneration. Learn more through Pete’s experience, and don’t forget to check in on your eye health.
This article is sponsored by Regeneron.
Image courtesy of Regeneron
People often assume life slows down with age, but that hasn’t stopped Pete. In fact, at 69 years old, Pete is volunteering for the Red Cross, helping care for his grandchildren and umpiring for his local little league.
Oftentimes, people don’t realize how eye problems can hold them back until they’re personally affected.
“Coaching my daughter’s softball team when she was growing up was such a blast, and I’m always looking to give back to my community. Now, all these years later, I’m an umpire! And my vision is a critical part of it all.”
Even when Pete was diagnosed with wet age-related macular degeneration (Wet AMD) in 2019, he knew he needed to take a proactive role in his care.
The Turning Point
Image courtesy of Regeneron
Several years ago, Pete woke up one morning and noticed something was off. His right eye was fuzzy. When his ophthalmologist diagnosed him with dry age-related macular degeneration (Dry AMD), he was shocked. “I’m too young to have this,” he remarked.
Then came the turning point: a retina specialist found fluid behind the retina in Pete’s eyes and diagnosed him with Wet AMD. For the next few years, Pete attended his doctor’s appointments to receive treatments, which sometimes stole precious time away from his family and hobbies.
What is Wet AMD?
Wet AMD is an age-related retinal disease that occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow in the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye, and leak fluid into the macula, potentially causing vision loss. AMD is a leading cause of vision loss for Americans age 50 and older.
Symptoms may appear suddenly and worsen quickly. These may include blurriness in central vision, blind spots or patches, colors looking dull or washed out and straight lines looking wavy. This shift in vision can bring not only physical challenges but also an emotional impact, including a loss of independence and reduced social connection.
Making the Calls in His Treatment Plan
Pete’s Wet AMD diagnosis hit him hard. But, instead of feeling discouraged, he pushed himself to take a proactive role in his treatment plan and learn more about different therapy options.
He heard about a prescription medicine called EYLEA HD® (aflibercept) Injection 8 mg, which was approved by the FDA in August 2023, and he asked his retina specialist if it would be the right treatment option for him. After they discussed the potential benefits and possible side effects, they ultimately decided it was the right plan for him.
SELECT IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
- EYLEA HD and EYLEA are administered by injection into the eye. You should not use EYLEA HD or EYLEA if you have an infection in or around the eye, eye pain or redness,
or known allergies to any of the ingredients in EYLEA HD or EYLEA, including aflibercept. - Injections into the eye with EYLEA HD or EYLEA can result in an infection in the eye, retinal detachment (separation of retina from back of the eye) and, more rarely, serious inflammation of blood vessels in the retina that may include blockage. Call your doctor right away if you experience eye pain or redness, light sensitivity, or a change in vision after an injection.
Please see additional IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION below and click here for full Prescribing Information.
With EYLEA HD, Pete now sees his retina specialist 4 or 5 times a year, which works for his busy schedule. As of April 2026, EYLEA HD became the first and only FDA-approved injectable anti-VEGF treatment for Wet AMD that gives you a chance for 5 months between injections after 1 year of successful response.
After 3 initial monthly treatments, your retina specialist will choose a 2-to-4-month treatment schedule. Some patients may need to resume monthly treatments. After 1 year of successful response, your retina specialist may extend your treatment schedule to every 5 months. Dosing may vary.
Pete needs his vision to help make the right calls on the field. He explains, “Being an umpire means the fate of a game sometimes relies on me. When I put the mask on, I need to have confidence in my vision to make the right calls.”
A Focus on Vision
Image courtesy of Regeneron
Today, Pete is proud that he decided to take an active role in his care. These days, he enjoys taking in the beautiful sights that life has to offer – most importantly, watching his grandchildren grow up.
If you notice vision changes or symptoms, such as spots or blurry vision, it’s important to make an appointment with an eye doctor as it could be a sign of Wet AMD. And if you have been diagnosed with Wet AMD, talk to your retina specialist about available treatment options and whether EYLEA HD may be appropriate for you.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
- EYLEA HD and EYLEA are administered by injection into the eye. You should not use EYLEA HD or EYLEA if you have an infection in or around the eye, eye pain or redness, or known allergies to any of the ingredients in EYLEA HD or EYLEA, including aflibercept.
- Injections into the eye with EYLEA HD or EYLEA can result in an infection in the eye, retinal detachment (separation of retina from back of the eye) and, more rarely, serious inflammation of blood vessels in the retina that may include blockage. Call your doctor right away if you experience eye pain or redness, light sensitivity, or a change in vision after an injection.
- In some patients, injections with EYLEA HD or EYLEA may cause a temporary increase in eye pressure within 1 hour of the injection. Sustained increases in eye pressure have been reported with repeated injections, and your doctor may monitor this after each injection.
- There is a potential but rare risk of serious and sometimes fatal side effects, related to blood clots, leading to heart attack or stroke in patients receiving EYLEA HD or EYLEA.
- The most common side effects reported in patients receiving EYLEA HD were cataract, increased redness in the eye, injury to the outer layer of the eye, increased pressure in the eye, eye discomfort, pain, or irritation, bleeding in the back of the eye, blurred vision, vitreous (gel-like substance) detachment, and vitreous floaters.
- The most common side effects reported in patients receiving EYLEA were increased redness in the eye, eye pain, cataract, vitreous detachment, vitreous floaters, moving spots in the field of vision, and increased pressure in the eye.
- You may experience temporary visual changes after an EYLEA HD or EYLEA injection and associated eye exams; do not drive or use machinery until your vision recovers sufficiently.
- These are not all the possible side effects of EYLEA HD or EYLEA. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
INDICATIONS
EYLEA HD® (aflibercept) Injection 8 mg and EYLEA® (aflibercept) Injection 2 mg are prescription medicines approved for the treatment of patients with Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), Diabetic Macular Edema (DME), Diabetic Retinopathy (DR), and Macular Edema following Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO).
Please click here for full Prescribing Information for EYLEA HD and EYLEA.
US.EHD.26.05.0050
07/2026
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