Intravitreal Injections

Intravitreal injections with an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) drug are commonly used to treat wet age related macular degeneration (AMD), some forms of diabetic eye disease and retinal vein occlusion. Anti-VEGF drugs stop blood vessels from growing and thus prevent blood and fluid leaking into the retinal tissue. This reduces the capacity for wet AMD to damage eyesight.

 

Having an intravitreal injection is typically a comfortable procedure.  The medication is injected into your eye with a super fine needle, and whilst the entire procedure takes about five minutes, the injection itself is over in less than 20 seconds.

 

The injection is given with you lying down comfortably. Local anaesthetic drops are applied to numb your eye and minimise discomfort. Your eyelids and surface of the eye are cleaned with an antiseptic solution to prevent infection. The face and area around your eye will be covered by a drape to keep the area sterile. A small clip (speculum) will be used to keep the eye open and a few seconds later, the injection is given. Your vision is assessed after the injection and you can then safely go home.

 

Common side effects that could occur include:

Red eye (there is usually a bleed on the white part/sub-conjunctival space at the point of injection, which clears in a week or two)

Sore and gritty eye (slight ache and discomfort lasting a day or two)

‘Blobs’ or ‘small specks’ in your vision (‘floaters’) might be seen for a few days after the injection.

Transient flashing lights or swirls of light immediately after the injection.

After your injection:

You might notice some discomfort and redness for the first few days after your treatment. This is often due to the nature of the antiseptic used. If your eye becomes progressively red, sensitive to light, swollen and painful, or your vision gets worse after the anti-VEGF treatment, you must seek medical help. This might indicate infection and normally occurs within the first week after the injection, but the risk is minimal.