Luxturna (Voretigene Neparvovec)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Luxturna Used For?
Luxturna is a specialized gene therapy treatment designed to help people with certain inherited eye conditions that cause vision loss.
Primary Uses
Luxturna treats specific genetic diseases that damage the retina (the light-detecting layer at the back of your eye) caused by mutations in the RPE65 gene. These mutations prevent your body from making a protein essential for vision, leading to vision loss and eventually blindness.
How It Works
Luxturna contains a modified virus that carries a healthy copy of the RPE65 gene. When injected into your eye, it delivers this gene to your retinal cells, enabling them to produce the essential proteins needed for vision. The virus used to deliver the gene is safe and does not cause disease in humans.
Good to know: Your doctor will assess whether you have enough healthy retinal cells for Luxturna to work effectively before treatment.
How Luxturna Is Given
Luxturna is not a medication you take at home. It’s a specialized treatment given by an eye surgeon in a hospital operating room.
Treatment Process
You will receive Luxturna as an injection directly into your retina under anesthesia. The procedure is performed on one eye first, then repeated on your other eye at least 6 days later. You’ll need to stay for observation for a few hours after each procedure to monitor your recovery. Your doctor will prescribe certain medicines for you to take before treatment.
Preparation
Before receiving Luxturna, your doctor will prescribe specific medications that you must take as directed. Follow all instructions from your doctor carefully.
Important: This is a one-time treatment for each eye performed by a specialized eye surgeon. You cannot receive too much Luxturna as it will be carefully administered by your doctor.
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Eye pain
- Eye irritation
- Vision problems
- Increased sensitivity to light
- Feeling that something is in your eye
- Redness of the eye
- Eye swelling
- Headache
- Blurred vision
- Temporary appearance of dot-like or yellowish material beneath the retina
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Gradual decline in vision
- Difficulty with night vision
- Vision distortions (seeing straight lines as wavy)
- Flashes of light in vision
- Floaters
- Loss of side vision
- Reduced vision
- Involuntary eye movements
- White or yellow discharge on or inside eyelid
- Sudden vision loss
- Severe eye pain
- Loss of vision
- Extreme sensitivity to bright light
- Difficulties distinguishing color
- Visible clear, small bump on the eye
- Clouded, blurred, or dim vision
Important Warnings
Before receiving Luxturna, it’s crucial to discuss your medical history and current health status with your doctor.
Who Should Not Receive Luxturna
Do not receive Luxturna if you are allergic to voretigene neparvovec or any ingredients in the medication. Signs of allergic reactions include shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, swelling of face, lips, tongue or other body parts, rash, or hives. Also avoid if you have any eye infections or eye swelling with symptoms like eye redness, swelling, pain, or light sensitivity.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, take any other medicines, suffer from increased eye pressure, or have diseases of the cornea with symptoms such as eye pain, feeling something is in your eye, or sensitivity to light.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Avoid using Luxturna during pregnancy. Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. If you are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, discuss the possible risks and benefits with your doctor.
Special Precautions: Some medicine may be present in your tears after treatment. You and your caregiver should wear gloves during dressing changes, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have immune system problems.
Drug Interactions
Tell your doctor about all medications you are taking, as some medicines may interfere with Luxturna.
Complete disclosure: Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re unsure about what medicines, vitamins, or supplements you’re taking and how they might affect Luxturna.
- All prescription medications
- Over-the-counter medicines
- Vitamins
- Supplements from pharmacy, supermarket, or health food shops
Alcohol & Driving
Luxturna may temporarily affect your vision and ability to perform certain activities safely.
Alcohol
Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. Your doctor needs to know about your alcohol consumption as it may affect your treatment or recovery.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Luxturna may cause temporary vision problems. Do not drive or use heavy machinery until your vision has recovered sufficiently. Be careful before driving or using any machines or tools until you know how Luxturna affects you, and follow your doctor’s advice.
Travel Restrictions
Avoid air travel or travel to high elevations until your doctor tells you it’s safe to do so.
Storage
Luxturna will be stored by healthcare professionals at your healthcare facility. The concentrate and solvent must be stored and transported frozen at -65°C or below. Once thawed, the medicine should not be re-frozen and should be kept at room temperature (below 25°C).
Overdose Information
It is unlikely that you will receive too much Luxturna since it will be given to you by a doctor in a controlled medical setting. If an overdose occurs, your doctor will treat any symptoms as needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Luxturna is a gene therapy that works by delivering a healthy copy of the RPE65 gene to your retinal cells. The timeline for improvement can vary, and your doctor will monitor your progress and vision recovery.
Luxturna is designed as a one-time treatment for each eye. The gene therapy delivers a healthy copy of the RPE65 gene to help your retinal cells produce essential proteins needed for vision.
Avoid air travel or high elevations until your doctor approves, avoid swimming due to increased infection risk (resume after 1-2 weeks with doctor’s approval), and do not donate blood, organs, tissues, or cells for transplantation after treatment.
Call your doctor right away if you develop signs of allergic reaction, eye infection symptoms (redness, swelling, pain, light sensitivity), vision problems like flashes, floaters, worsening or blurred vision, or any sudden vision changes.
Do not drive or use heavy machinery until your vision has recovered sufficiently. Luxturna may cause temporary vision problems, so follow your doctor’s advice about when it’s safe to resume driving.
Some of the medicine may be present in your tears after treatment. You and your caregiver should wear gloves during dressing changes and when disposing of dressings, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have immune system problems.
Yes, the surgery will be performed on one eye first, then repeated on your other eye at least 6 days later. Each eye requires its own separate treatment procedure.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.