PlainMeds provides educational information only. This is not medical advice. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist.

aflibercept vs netarsudil/latanoprost

Side-by-side comparison of aflibercept and netarsudil/latanoprost Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

Drug Class
aflibercept Anti-VEGF (Ophthalmic Injection)
netarsudil/latanoprost Rho Kinase Inhibitor / PGA Combination
Type
aflibercept Prescription
netarsudil/latanoprost Prescription
Summary
aflibercept

AHZANTIVE is a medicine used to treat certain eye problems. It helps to stop blood vessels from growing and leaking in the eye.

netarsudil/latanoprost

Rocklatan is an eye drop medicine that lowers pressure inside the eye. It is used for people with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

What It Treats
aflibercept

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.

netarsudil/latanoprost

Rocklatan is used to lower high pressure in your eyes. This medicine is for people who have open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. These conditions can damage the optic nerve and cause vision loss. By lowering the pressure, Rocklatan helps to protect your eyes.

How It Works
aflibercept

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.

netarsudil/latanoprost

Rocklatan contains two medicines that work together. One medicine helps to relax eye tissues to allow fluid to drain better. The other medicine helps to reduce the amount of fluid your eye makes. This combination lowers the pressure in your eye.

Common Side Effects
aflibercept
  • 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
netarsudil/latanoprost
  • Redness of the eye (59%)
  • Pain where the drop is applied (20%)
  • Changes in the cornea (15%)
  • Bleeding in the eye (11%)
FAERS Reports
aflibercept
  • 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
netarsudil/latanoprost
  • Redness of the eye 244
  • Blurred vision 149
  • Using the medicine for something it's not approved for 145
  • Eye pain 134
  • Eye redness 133
Serious Warnings
aflibercept

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.

netarsudil/latanoprost

Rocklatan can cause changes in eye color, eyelid, and eyelashes. The color change in the iris (colored part of the eye) may be permanent. Eyelash changes, like increased length and thickness, are usually reversible when you stop using Rocklatan. This medicine may also cause swelling in the cornea, especially if you have existing cornea problems or have had eye surgery. Tell your doctor if you have eye pain or vision changes.

Pregnancy
aflibercept

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.

netarsudil/latanoprost

It is not known if Rocklatan will harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if Rocklatan passes into breast milk. Discuss with your doctor if you are breastfeeding.

Also Compare — Nearby Drugs

Compare aflibercept with

How to Read This aflibercept vs netarsudil/latanoprost Comparison

aflibercept is classified in the Anti-VEGF (Ophthalmic Injection) drug class, while netarsudil/latanoprost sits within the Rho Kinase Inhibitor / PGA Combination 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 netarsudil/latanoprost has 805. 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 netarsudil/latanoprost — 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.