Intravitreal Injections
One of the most common procedures performed by your retinal specialist is the injection of medication into the middle part of the eye called the vitreous. These injections are useful for treating a wide variety of retinal problems such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusions, inflammation, and other problems.
Many patients who need intravitreal injections will require more than one. That’s why it is important to understand how this process works and the potential side effects.
Is It Painful?
No. Before the procedure, your eye is numbed with a topical anesthetic to prevent any sharp pain that would otherwise occur during an injection.
How Does It Work?
The process begins with a specialized technician preparing your eye with sterilizing solution and numbing drops or gel. The retina specialist may also use a small lid clip to hold the eyelids open during your procedure. Once the preparation is complete, your doctor will administer the injection. It is normal to feel a slight pressure sensation while this occurs. The entire procedure typically takes about 10-20 minutes.
The most uncomfortable part of the process usually comes several minutes or hours after your injection. When the topical anesthetic wears off, it is normal for your eye to feel irritated and look slightly red. This is primarily due to the sterilizing solution, which dries the eye’s surface. Using over-the-counter artificial tears will clear this up after a few hours.
Are There Any Side Effects?
Occasionally, a few small air bubbles will be present in the medication from the preparation process. These may appear as small floating spots (floaters), usually located in the bottom part of your vision for several hours following the injection. These floaters are not harmful and are a normal part of the procedure.
There may also be a small, bright red spot of blood near the injection site following treatment. This spot may be larger than normal for patients taking blood-thinning medications such as aspirin, warfarin, Plavix, or Xarelto. It is not harmful and disappears without treatment in a few days.