The present invention relates to fluorinated compounds of formula (I) and methods of synthesizing these compounds. The present invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing the fluorinated compounds of the invention, and methods of treating macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy (DR), macular edema, diabetic macular edema (DME), and macular edema following retinal vein occlusion (RVO), by administering these compounds and pharmaceutical compositions to subjects in need thereof.