aflibercept vs lifitegrast
Side-by-side comparison of aflibercept and lifitegrast Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Eylea
Xiidra
AHZANTIVE is a medicine used to treat certain eye problems. It helps to stop blood vessels from growing and leaking in the eye.
Xiidra is an eye drop medicine used to treat dry eye disease. It helps reduce inflammation that causes dry eyes.
AHZANTIVE treats wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It also treats swelling in the macula (the central part of the retina) caused by retinal vein occlusion (RVO) or diabetic macular edema (DME). Additionally, it can treat diabetic retinopathy (DR), an eye disease caused by diabetes.
Xiidra treats the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease. Dry eye disease can cause discomfort and vision problems. This medicine can help relieve these issues.
AHZANTIVE is a VEGF inhibitor. VEGF is a protein that promotes the growth of new blood vessels. By blocking VEGF, AHZANTIVE helps to reduce the growth of abnormal blood vessels in the eye and decrease leakage.
Xiidra blocks a protein on the surface of cells that causes inflammation. By blocking this protein, Xiidra can reduce inflammation in the eyes. This helps to improve the symptoms of dry eye disease.
- • Bleeding in the eye
- • Eye pain
- • Clouding of the lens of the eye (cataract)
- • Separation of the vitreous gel from the retina
- • Spots in your vision
- • Irritation where the drops are placed
- • A bad taste in your mouth
- • Blurry vision
- Death 7,853
- Trouble seeing 2,013
- Using the medicine for something it's not approved for 1,509
- Loss of sight 1,459
- Eye infection 1,372
- Eye irritation 2,649
- Blurred vision 2,566
- The medicine is not working 1,536
- Eye pain 1,386
- Pain where the drops are placed 1,281
Injections with AHZANTIVE may cause serious eye infections (endophthalmitis), separation of the retina (retinal detachment), and inflammation of blood vessels in the retina. Tell your doctor right away if you have any signs of these problems. AHZANTIVE may also increase the risk of blood clots that can cause stroke or heart attack.
You should not take Xiidra if you are allergic to lifitegrast or any of the other ingredients. Allergic reactions can be severe.
It is not known if AHZANTIVE can harm an unborn baby. AHZANTIVE should be used during pregnancy only if the benefit justifies the risk. It is also not known if AHZANTIVE passes into breast milk.
There is not enough information about using Xiidra during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Xiidra passes into breast milk, so discuss with your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
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How to Read This aflibercept vs lifitegrast Comparison
aflibercept is classified in the Anti-VEGF (Ophthalmic Injection) drug class, while lifitegrast sits within the LFA-1 Antagonist (Ophthalmic) class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, aflibercept has 14,206 submissions while lifitegrast has 9,418. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between aflibercept and lifitegrast — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.