INTRA-Vitreal Injections

This is a procedure where a drug is injected into the vitreous cavity , which is the jelly-like substance inside your eye. It is performed to place medicines inside the eye near the retina. . Common conditions treated with intravitreal injections include diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, retinal vascular diseases and ocular inflammation. The procedure is performed in operation room. The actual procedure may take around 10 minutes. You will be made to lie down in a comfortable position and anesthetic (numbing) drops will be applied in your eye. Your eye will be cleaned with an iodine antiseptic solution. A speculum is inserted and the medicine injected into the vitreous. You may experience a mild discomfort during the procedure. Antibiotic drops will be applied and the eye padded. Antibiotic eye drops need to be applied for a week.The doctor will see you the next day for inflammation or increase in intraocular pressure. Instructions following an intravitreal injection
  • There are no special precautions except to avoid rubbing the eye and washing your eye with water
  • Instill the antibiotic eye drops 4 times a day for 1 week.
  • You can also take mild painkillers to alleviate any discomfort during the first few days.
Normal effects following an intravitreal injection
  • A subconjunctival hemorrhage (red eye) usually occurs at the injection site. This will gradually fade within 7 to 10 days.
  • Your vision may become slightly more blurred immediately after the injection. There may also be some floaters in your vision.
  • You may experience mild discomfort for a few days after the injection. This discomfort should be relieved by mild painkillers.
Warning symptoms following an intravitreal injection Although retinal detachment and cataract are potential but rare complications of intravitreal injection, the most feared complication is endophthalmitis i.e. infection inside the eye (rates typically less than 1%). The warning symptoms of this complication are rapid onset of:
  • Increasing eye pain.
  • Increasing redness of the eye.
  • Greatly decreased vision.
You must contact the hospital immediately for advice if you develop these warning symptoms. It is very important to identify and treat this type of infection as quickly as possible.   Conditions where Intra Vitreal injections are administered Diabetic Macular edema Clinically significant Macular Edema Edema due to Retinal Vein Occlusions Choroidal Neo Vascular Membrnes Endophthalmitis(Anti Biotics)