Xipere (triamcinolone acetonide) is an eye injection used to treat macular edema (swelling in the central part of the retina) associated with uveitis (inflammation inside the eye).
Like most medicines, Xipere can cause side effects. Most are related to the eye and the injection itself. Xipere is given as an in-office injection by an eye specialist rather than a treatment you use at home. In the clinical trial leading to its approval, people received two Xipere injections that were given 12 weeks apart
Keep reading to learn about possible side effects of Xipere, what you can do to help manage them, and when to contact your health care provider. This article doesn't include every possible side effect. Tell your health care provider about any symptoms that concern you or don't go away, even if they aren't listed here.
Common Side Effects of Xipere
In clinical studies, the most common side effects of Xipere (affecting 5% or more of people) included:
- Increased eye pressure
- Eye pain
- Headache
Other side effects reported in some people included pain at the injection site, bleeding on the surface of the eye, blurred or reduced vision, dry eye, light sensitivity, and eye floaters.
Most of these side effects are manageable. Contact your health care provider if any of these feel severe, don't improve, or get in the way of your daily life.
Serious Side Effects of Xipere
Less common but more serious side effects can include:
- A significant, lasting rise in eye pressure that leads to or worsens glaucoma
- Cataracts serious enough to affect vision and require surgery
- A serious eye infection (endophthalmitis)
- Retinal detachment or vitreous detachment (the gel-like substance inside the eye separating from the retina)
If you have symptoms that feel serious, such as sudden vision loss, severe eye pain, or a sudden increase in floaters or flashes of light, seek medical care right away.
Below, we'll cover the most common and most important Xipere side effects in more detail, including what you can do about them.
Tips for Managing Xipere Side Effects
1. Increased eye pressure
Also called intraocular pressure (IOP), increased eye pressure is the most common side effect of Xipere. In studies, some people had a pressure increase that developed around the time of the injection and went away the same day; for others, it developed later and lasted longer.
Increased eye pressure often doesn't cause noticeable symptoms on its own, so your health care provider will check your eye pressure right after the injection and may continue to monitor it at follow-up visits.
What you can do:
- Keep all scheduled follow-up visits so your provider can monitor your eye pressure.
- Tell your provider about any personal or family history of glaucoma before starting treatment.
- Report eye pain, headache, blurred vision, or halos around lights, as these can sometimes signal high eye pressure.
If your eye pressure rises, your health care provider may prescribe eye drops or other medicine to lower it. They may also monitor your eye pressure more closely and consider it when deciding whether you need additional Xipere treatment.
2. Cataracts
A cataract is clouding of the eye's natural lens, which can make vision blurry, hazy, or less colorful over time. Corticosteroids like the one in Xipere can cause cataracts or make an existing cataract worse, but this happened at similar rates in people who got Xipere and people who got a placebo in clinical studies.
Possible signs of a cataract include:
- Cloudy, blurry, or dim vision
- Increased sensitivity to glare, especially at night
- Colors that look faded or yellowed
- Needing brighter light to read
To help manage this side effect:
- Attend regular eye exams so your provider can monitor the health of your lens.
- Tell your provider right away if your vision changes or seems to be getting worse.
- Wear sunglasses that block ultraviolet (UV) light when outdoors, as UV exposure may add to lens damage over time.
If a cataract develops and starts to affect your vision, your health care provider may refer you for cataract surgery. It is a common and generally safe procedure that replaces the clouded lens.
3. Eye pain and discomfort around the time of the injection
Eye pain is common on the day of the Xipere injection and can also happen in the following days. Some pain or discomfort on injection day is related to the procedure itself, but pain that persists or begins in the days afterward may be a response to the drug or its local effects in the eye. Eye pain that was not immediate was reported in about 1 in 8 people who received Xipere in clinical studies.
Possible symptoms include:
- Aching or soreness in or around the eye
- A gritty or scratchy feeling
- Mild tenderness at the injection site
To help manage discomfort:
- Ask your provider about using artificial tears if your eye feels dry or irritated afterward.
- Avoid rubbing your eye in the days following the injection.
- Ask your provider whether an over-the-counter pain reliever is right for you if you have mild soreness.
Contact your health care provider if the pain is severe, gets worse instead of better, or comes with vision changes, redness, or light sensitivity. These can be signs of a more serious problem that needs prompt attention.
4. Bleeding, floaters, or the gel inside the eye pulling away from the retina
Some people notice a small amount of bleeding on the white part of the eye (conjunctival hemorrhage) after the injection, which typically looks like a red patch and clears up on its own in one to two weeks. Others may notice new floaters (specks or squiggly lines that drift across your vision) or experience a vitreous detachment, where the gel-like substance inside the eye separates from the retina. Vitreous detachment is a common age-related change that can happen on its own, but it was reported more often in people who received Xipere than in those who received a sham procedure in studies.
To help manage these symptoms:
- Give any surface bleeding time to heal on its own. It doesn't need special treatment.
- Tell your health care provider about any new floaters so they can check the back of your eye.
Contact your health care provider right away if you notice a sudden increase in floaters, flashes of light, or a shadow or curtain across your vision. These can be signs of a retinal tear or detachment, which needs urgent evaluation.
5. Serious eye infection or retinal detachment
These side effects are uncommon, but they're serious enough that you should know the warning signs before your injection.
A serious eye infection inside the eye (endophthalmitis) and retinal detachment (when the retina pulls away from the back of the eye) can both threaten your vision if they aren't treated quickly. Symptoms of either can include:
- New or worsening eye pain
- Redness of the eye
- Sensitivity to light
- Blurring or sudden changes in vision
- A shadow, curtain, or dark spot in your field of vision
Have this information on hand before your appointment, and make sure a family member or friend knows to watch for these symptoms too, especially in the days right after your injection. If you notice any of these symptoms, contact your ophthalmologist right away or go to an emergency room. Don't wait to see if it improves on its own.
Reducing Your Risk of Xipere Side Effects
To help lower your risk of side effects with Xipere:
- Attend every follow-up visit, especially eye pressure checks.
- Tell your health care provider about any history of glaucoma, cataracts, or other eye conditions before starting treatment.
- Report new or worsening eye symptoms promptly, rather than waiting for your next scheduled visit.
- Keep track of your vision from day to day so you notice changes early.
Contact your health care provider if you have side effects after your Xipere injection. They can help manage your symptoms and decide whether you need any additional treatment.
