INTRAVITREAL INJECTIONS

 

 

Intravitreal Injection is a common procedure routinely performed in the office at the Annan Retina Eye Center. Prescribed medicine is injected into the back portion of your eye using a fine needle.

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First your eye will be cleaned to prevent infection and administer an aesthetic on the surface of your eye to ensure the procedure is pain free. This treatment usually works best with several injections repeated each month or over several months.

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Why do I need a course of Intravitreal Injections?

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Common diseases treated with this type of injection include age-related macular degeneration, retinal vein occlusion, inflammation or short-sighted related abnormal blood vessel growth, or other rare problems with the blood supply to the retina.

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Can there be any complications or risks?

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Each injection, regardless of the drug injected comes with a small risk.

The most serious risks are:

• Infection inside the eye

• Blockage of the main artery to the eye

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Other rare complications include:

• Retinal detachment

• Bleeding inside the eye

• Damage to the lens in the eye

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These are all treatable but can compromise the vision in that eye.

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Preparing for the injection

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Before the injection you may continue with your daily activities as normal; this includes continuing with all routine medication and eye drops. You may eat and drink as normal prior to the injection.

You can drive after your appointment as you will not be having dilating drops in the eye under-going the injection treatment.