How Much Does an Eye Injection Cost?
An intravitreal (anti-VEGF) eye injection costs about $150 to $2,500+ per shot, and the drug is what decides the price: Avastin is the cheapest, while Eylea and Lucentis are far pricier. Because these are given repeatedly, the yearly cost adds up, but insurance, Medicare, and copay assistance cap what you pay.
- The drug is the price. Avastin runs about $150 to $600 a shot; Eylea and Lucentis are about $1,800 to $2,500 because the drug itself costs far more.
- Medicare Part B and commercial plans cover these injections; you owe coinsurance (20% under Part B) up to your yearly out-of-pocket maximum.
- Studies found Avastin works about as well as the pricier drugs for common conditions. Ask your retina specialist whether it is an option for you.
Eye Injection Cost by Drug
These are typical billed charges per injection (drug plus the injection procedure). Your insurance then sets your share.
| Drug | Billed per injection |
|---|---|
| Avastin (bevacizumab) | $150 to $600 |
| Eylea (aflibercept) | $1,800 to $2,500 |
| Lucentis (ranibizumab) | $1,200 to $2,000 |
| Injection procedure only | $200 to $400 |
| Insured / Medicare, your share | 20% up to your cap |
Lowest price: Avastin in an office setting, with your coinsurance capped by insurance or a supplement.
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Why the Drug Choice Changes Everything
All three common injections treat the same conditions (wet macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion) by blocking the same protein. The difference is price:
- Avastin is a cancer drug a pharmacy splits into tiny eye doses, so each dose costs very little.
- Eylea and Lucentis are manufactured and priced for the eye, which is why a single shot can run over $2,000.
- Large trials found Avastin performs comparably for many patients, so it is a reasonable, and far cheaper, place to start if your specialist agrees.
The right drug is a medical decision, but knowing the price gap lets you ask an informed question at your appointment.
How to Pay Less
Ask whether Avastin is appropriate
For many common conditions it is the standard first choice and costs a fraction of the alternatives. This is the single biggest lever on the bill.
Enroll in copay assistance
If you need Eylea or Lucentis, the manufacturers run copay programs that can cover most or all of your coinsurance. Your retina clinic can help you enroll.
Get it done in an office, not a hospital
An ophthalmology office visit avoids the hospital facility fee that inflates the same injection when done in a hospital outpatient department.
Add a Medicare supplement if you are on Part B
Because injections recur, the 20% Part B coinsurance adds up. A Medigap supplement or secondary plan can cover that share for frequent injections.
Already have a bill? Get it reviewed
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Open the cost estimatorFrequently Asked Questions
How much does an eye injection cost?
It depends almost entirely on the drug. An Avastin (bevacizumab) injection is billed at roughly $150 to $600 including the injection fee, while Eylea (aflibercept) and Lucentis (ranibizumab) run about $1,800 to $2,500 per shot because the drug itself is far more expensive. The injection procedure adds about $200 to $400 on top of the drug.
Does insurance or Medicare cover eye injections?
Yes. Anti-VEGF eye injections for conditions like macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy are covered under the medical benefit, and under Medicare Part B. Part B pays 80% after the deductible, leaving you 20% coinsurance unless you have a supplement or secondary plan. On commercial insurance your share is set by your coinsurance and yearly out-of-pocket maximum.
Why is Avastin so much cheaper than Eylea or Lucentis?
Avastin is a cancer drug repackaged into small eye doses by a compounding pharmacy, so each dose costs a fraction of the others. Eylea and Lucentis are made and priced specifically for eye use. Large clinical trials found Avastin works about as well as the pricier drugs for common conditions, which is why many retina specialists start with it. Ask your ophthalmologist whether Avastin is an option for you.
How often are eye injections needed and what is the yearly cost?
Many patients need an injection every 4 to 12 weeks, so the cost is recurring. A year of monthly Eylea or Lucentis injections can be billed $20,000 to $30,000 per eye, while Avastin might be a few thousand. With insurance your annual share is capped by your out-of-pocket maximum, and copay assistance can lower it further.
How can I lower the cost of eye injections?
Ask whether Avastin is clinically appropriate for you, since it is dramatically cheaper. Enroll in the manufacturer's copay assistance program for Eylea or Lucentis. Have injections done in an office setting rather than a hospital outpatient department to avoid facility fees. And if a bill looks wrong or unaffordable, have it reviewed. CareRoute Bill Defense reviews and negotiates these bills with no fee unless we save you money.
More Cost Guides
Sources
- Medicare Part B average sales price data for bevacizumab (Avastin), aflibercept (Eylea), and ranibizumab (Lucentis) and injection administration (CPT 67028)
- CATT and comparative-effectiveness trials on anti-VEGF drugs for macular degeneration
- Manufacturer copay and patient-assistance program terms; ranibizumab biosimilar pricing
- FAIR Health and clinic fee data on intravitreal injection charges
Prices are national estimates for 2026 and vary by drug, clinic, and plan. Drug choice is a medical decision made with your ophthalmologist. This is general cost information, not medical advice. Last updated September 16, 2026.