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aflibercept vs tafluprost

Side-by-side comparison of aflibercept and tafluprost 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)
tafluprost Prostaglandin Analog (Ophthalmic)
Type
aflibercept Prescription
tafluprost 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.

tafluprost

Tafluprost eye drops help lower pressure in 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.

tafluprost

Tafluprost eye drops are used to lower high pressure inside your eye. This medicine is for people who have open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. These conditions can damage the optic nerve and cause vision loss if not treated.

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.

tafluprost

Tafluprost is similar to a natural substance in your body called prostaglandin. It works by increasing the flow of fluid out of your eye. This helps to lower the pressure inside 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
tafluprost
  • Redness of the eye
  • Eye stinging or irritation
  • Eye itching
  • Cataract
  • Dry eye
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
tafluprost
  • Eye redness 459
  • Eye irritation 416
  • Eye pain 288
  • Eye itching 227
  • Medicine not working 206
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.

tafluprost

Tafluprost can cause changes in the color of your iris (the colored part of your eye), eyelid, and eyelashes. The iris color change may be permanent. Eyelash changes, like increased length or thickness, are usually reversible when you stop using the medicine. Use with caution if you have active inflammation inside your eye, as it may worsen. Tafluprost may cause swelling in the back of the eye, especially if you have had cataract surgery or have other risk factors.

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.

tafluprost

Tafluprost may harm an unborn baby. Women who could become pregnant should use birth control while using this medicine. It is not known if tafluprost passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.

Also Compare — Nearby Drugs

How to Read This aflibercept vs tafluprost Comparison

aflibercept is classified in the Anti-VEGF (Ophthalmic Injection) drug class, while tafluprost sits within the Prostaglandin Analog (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 tafluprost has 1,596. 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 tafluprost — 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.