An intravitreal (into the vitreous cavity) injection is a way of delivering medications to the retina in the back of the eye. Certain medications will not reach the retina if given as eye drops or pills and therefore need to be injected directly into the eye. Intravitreal injection is a procedure typically performed when fluid has built up either in or under the retina. Common medications that are injected include Avastin, Lucentis, Eylea and Dexamethasone. Your doctor will discuss with you which specific medication is recommended for your condition and why it will help your vision.
Avastin, Lucentis and Eylea are a certain class of medication called Anti-VEGF. Vascular Endiothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is a local hormone that is released in the tissues that causes blood vessels to become porous (allowing fluid to leak) or to grow new blood vessels (abnormal vessels). Both these medications are used to stop fluid / blood from leaking out of blood vessels, which is a common occurrence in both wet macular degeneration and macular oedema. In wet macular degeneration, intravitreal injections are used to prevent the growth of abnormal blood vessels under the retina. These abnormal blood vessels leak fluid and blood and are very damaging to the retinal photoreceptors.
How is the eye injection done?
Firstly, you will have some local anaesthetic drops instilled into your eye and then a small amount of local anaesthetic applied to the surface of your eye in the area your injection is to be performed. Following this the area around your eye and the lids will be cleansed with an antiseptic solution. After allowing time for the antiseptic to dry and the anaesthetic to take effect the doctor will inject the medication through the white part of your eye.
Will the injection hurt?
In most cases the anaesthesia eliminates the sensation of pain from the eye injection. There will be some discomfort and a feeling of pressure. Some people notice a greying or blurring of their vision for some minutes after the injection. On very rare occasions a very quick pinching sensation may be felt.
What are the risks?
The most important risk of the injection is an infection inside the eye. However, this is a very rare complication occurring in much less than 1% of injections. Other rare complications include bleeding inside the eye, cataract, glaucoma and retinal detachment. More common side effects include irritation and a temporary increase in pressure inside the eye.
Moving circular black spots in your vision (floaters) may be noticeable immediately following the injection and can last up to 24 hours. A small red area or haemorrhage at the site of injection is also commonly seen in the first few days after injection. This occurs as a result of a capillary being punctured and is nothing to be concerned about. It is similar to a bruise on the outside of your eye and will resolve completely over 1-2 weeks.
What would be the symptoms of an infection inside the eye?
The symptoms of an infection inside the eye include severe eye pain that doesn’t go away, a large drop in vision and severe red eye (Mild irritation and redness on the white part of the eye are normal after the injection, especially in the first day). If you have any of these symptoms or if you are concerned you should call your doctor the same day for further evaluation.
Do I need to take any special care or medication after my injection?
Yes. Your doctor will give you an antibiotic drop to use in the injected eye and you should take one drop, 2 times a day for 3 days. You should avoid getting water in the eye for the first 3 days after the injection. There are no restrictions on watching TV or working on the computer after the injection.
Post Injection Instructions:
Avastin, Lucentis and Eylea are a certain class of medication called Anti-VEGF. Vascular Endiothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is a local hormone that is released in the tissues that causes blood vessels to become porous (allowing fluid to leak) or to grow new blood vessels (abnormal vessels). Both these medications are used to stop fluid / blood from leaking out of blood vessels, which is a common occurrence in both wet macular degeneration and macular oedema. In wet macular degeneration, intravitreal injections are used to prevent the growth of abnormal blood vessels under the retina. These abnormal blood vessels leak fluid and blood and are very damaging to the retinal photoreceptors.
How is the eye injection done?
Firstly, you will have some local anaesthetic drops instilled into your eye and then a small amount of local anaesthetic applied to the surface of your eye in the area your injection is to be performed. Following this the area around your eye and the lids will be cleansed with an antiseptic solution. After allowing time for the antiseptic to dry and the anaesthetic to take effect the doctor will inject the medication through the white part of your eye.
Will the injection hurt?
In most cases the anaesthesia eliminates the sensation of pain from the eye injection. There will be some discomfort and a feeling of pressure. Some people notice a greying or blurring of their vision for some minutes after the injection. On very rare occasions a very quick pinching sensation may be felt.
What are the risks?
The most important risk of the injection is an infection inside the eye. However, this is a very rare complication occurring in much less than 1% of injections. Other rare complications include bleeding inside the eye, cataract, glaucoma and retinal detachment. More common side effects include irritation and a temporary increase in pressure inside the eye.
Moving circular black spots in your vision (floaters) may be noticeable immediately following the injection and can last up to 24 hours. A small red area or haemorrhage at the site of injection is also commonly seen in the first few days after injection. This occurs as a result of a capillary being punctured and is nothing to be concerned about. It is similar to a bruise on the outside of your eye and will resolve completely over 1-2 weeks.
What would be the symptoms of an infection inside the eye?
The symptoms of an infection inside the eye include severe eye pain that doesn’t go away, a large drop in vision and severe red eye (Mild irritation and redness on the white part of the eye are normal after the injection, especially in the first day). If you have any of these symptoms or if you are concerned you should call your doctor the same day for further evaluation.
Do I need to take any special care or medication after my injection?
Yes. Your doctor will give you an antibiotic drop to use in the injected eye and you should take one drop, 2 times a day for 3 days. You should avoid getting water in the eye for the first 3 days after the injection. There are no restrictions on watching TV or working on the computer after the injection.
Post Injection Instructions:
- Use the antibiotic eye drop as directed
- Avoid swimming for 3 days
- Call your doctor if you experience any significant pain, redness or a large drop in your vision in the injected eye.
What to Expect after your injection?
Please contact us on 07 4779 8008 if you are experiencing:
- You may experience some eye discomfort for 1-2 days after your injection. You can take 2 Paracetamol tablets every 4 hours to alleviate this discomfort if required.
- You may have some generalised redness / grittiness of your eye for 1-2 days following your injection. You can use a lubricant drop (purchased from the chemist) to help alleviate this.
- You may have a large area of what might appear as bleeding on the white part of your eye. This is a bleed from a blood vessel and will dissipate in a week or two.
- You may notice some small floaters in your vision. These will disappear in 1-2 days.
- You may have some initial light sensitivity which should settle within the first day.
- Use your antibiotic drops for 3 days after your injection as instructed.
Please contact us on 07 4779 8008 if you are experiencing:
- Increasing pain / worsening pain after your injection
- Worsening redness after your injection
- Reduced / worsening vision after your injection
- Increasing light sensitivity with ache
- Increased floaters
