What Is It Like to Have an Intravitreal Injection?
There is no way to get around the hard truth that an intravitreal injection means sticking a needle in your eye. The benefit is clear: stabilizing or slowing vision-threatening age-related macular degeneration. Hundreds of thousands of people every year have intravitreal injections, but if you are nervous about the procedure, here is a description so you know what to expect.
First, the ophthalmic technician places numbing drops in your eye so that you are comfortable throughout the procedure. Your eye is held open with a speculum but this is not uncomfortable since your eye is numb. Your eye receives another round of anesthetics, a cleaning drop, and possibly topical antibiotics. This cleans the eye, protects against infection, and further numbs the eye. Then the injection is performed with a tiny needle, about 0.01 inches in diameter. Because of the anesthetic, patients rarely feel anything from the injection itself other than pressure. Then the eye is washed cleaned and you're done. To protect your eye, the procedure is performed as quickly as possible, taking mere minutes from start to finish.
After the injection, some patients experience a foreign body sensation in the eye and/or a feeling that your eye is slightly swollen. You may have watery eyes, and there may be some redness. There may be some discomfort. The extent to which you experience these side effects is not predictable, but it is generally mild and passes quickly. To further protect against infection, your doctor may prescribe antibiotic drops.
Macular degeneration is a serious condition, and intravitreal injection is currently the best treatment option available. Although you may be nervous about the procedure, it is actually quick with only very minor side effects. To schedule a macular degeneration treatment consultation, contact Horizon Eye Care in Charlotte, North Carolina today.
