Though getting an injection into your eye may sound terrifying, the procedure itself is actually fairly painless and will only last a few minutes. You will experience either slight pressure or no sensation at all during this procedure.

Anti-VEGF medications are the most often injected to treat wet macular degeneration. Faricimab (Vabysmo), however, treats dry macular degeneration.

Dexamethasone

Ozurdex (dexamethasone implant) is a medication prescribed to adults suffering from macular edema due to diabetes or blocked veins in their retina (the tissue at the back of the eye). It works by inhibiting proteins responsible for inflammation. Ozurdex comes as an implant placed inside the eye which slowly releases medication over a period of months.

Drug can also be used to treat wet macular degeneration, where blood vessels form under the retina and leak fluid into it, which is also referred to as macular edema and is the leading cause of vision loss among those with diabetes. Laser photocoagulation, injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections or pars plana vitrectomy may be combined with this medication as treatments for wet macular degeneration.

Brolucizumab (anti-VEGF), is the newest treatment option for wet macular degeneration. This medication works by inhibiting VEGF’s effect of widening and leakage blood vessels; and has shown significant promise at slowing its progress. Our retinal specialists are participating in an early access scheme so this medicine may soon become accessible.

Recent research evaluated the comparative effectiveness of bevacizumab and DEX implant in treating DME that is resistant to laser photocoagulation or anti-VEGF therapy, with 10 patients tracked over 24 weeks for study purposes. Ophthalmological exams were performed at baseline and monthly during trial participation as well as spectral-domain optical coherence tomography to measure central subfield thickness; furthermore they performed best-corrected visual acuity, cataract development analysis as well as intraocular pressure measurement as well as signs of inflammation.

Kenalog

Kenalog (triamcinolone acetonide) has long been used in medicine to reduce swelling, inflammation and pain inside of an eye. When administered via injection into the eye it reduces such conditions as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusions, uveitis etc. safely and effectively.

Steroid medication provides relief by decreasing fluid accumulation within the macula, but does not address its source – hence why regular injections may be required.

Both medications have been demonstrated to significantly enhance vision in those suffering from wet macular degeneration by slowing progression of their condition and sometimes improving visual acuity. When combined with single session photodynamic therapy and bevacizumab treatment (triple therapy), they have shown to significantly slow the progression of wet AMD.

Your doctor will administer several drops of local anesthetic to numb the area where injection will take place, followed by antiseptic solution to disinfect it. After the anesthetic has taken effect, he or she will administer Kenalog injection into the center of your eye.

Some individuals experience a brief pinching sensation from injection, and the site of injection may become slightly swollen for several days afterward. Your doctor may then invite you in for follow-up visits every three to six months or longer; during these appointments they’ll evaluate both vision and eye health in addition to providing additional drops if necessary. Should your vision worsen or new floaters appear suddenly, please call us immediately so that an appointment can be scheduled.

Local Anesthesia

Intraocular injections (IOI) are most often employed to treat wet age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, helping minimize vision loss caused by these diseases. Most injections can be performed easily at your doctor’s office without experiencing pain – providing excellent relief!

Before administering medication, an anesthetic eye drop is applied to numb the eye, then held open by a wire speculum while an anti-VEGF drug such as Avastin, Eylea or Lucentis is injected directly into the vitreous gel of the center of the eye using a small needle.

Once injected, the medicine takes up space in the eye and temporarily raises pressure, leading to discomfort for some patients and potential side effects such as small hemorrhages at injection sites or floating black spots in vision (floaters).

Proparacaine, bupivacaine, lidocaine and levobupivacaine can be used to mitigate intraocular injection pain; studies of patients with wet macular degeneration have revealed that levobupivacaine was superior to proparacaine for relieving discomfort.

If a retinal tear exists, a procedure called pneumatic retinopexy may also be required as part of treatment. Performed in your doctor’s office and using either general or local anesthesia, this treatment involves injecting gas bubbles that put mild pressure on the retina to flatten it and close any tears present. After this treatment has taken effect, laser photocoagulation or cryotherapy treatments can then be utilized to seal them further; although these methods are effective they do not stop progression or reverse damage caused.

Antiseptic Solution

Intravitreal injection is a treatment option for wet macular degeneration, retinal vein occlusion and diabetic macular edema. The process entails injecting medicine directly into the vitreous (the jelly-like substance in the eye). These medicines work to stop leakage, growth and bleeding of abnormal blood vessels in the retina as well as block effects of proteins which cause these blood vessels to expand or leak further.

Before your injection, your eyes will be numbed using anesthetic eye drops and cleaned using antiseptic solution to create a slightly stinging sensation. Your doctor will then use a small instrument called a speculum to keep your eye open while the medicine is injected through a quick pressure, often times without pain – however there may occasionally be a brief pinching sensation at injection time.

After receiving an injection, your eyes may feel sore and gritty due to irritation caused by iodine antiseptic agent used as an antiseptic. The soreness should subside within a day or two. You may notice moving black spots in your vision caused by capillaries punctured by the needle being punctured by it.

Wolfe Eye Clinic currently treats retinal conditions through eye injections; however, we are actively participating in clinical trials to develop better medications, alternative long-term drug delivery systems and gene therapies that could eventually replace injections as treatments for most retinal diseases. This exciting period for retina specialists.

Injection

Eye injections can be an extremely useful treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration, helping prevent new blood vessels that form, leading to fluid leakage and vision loss. Common anti-VEGF drugs used include bevacizumab (Avastin), aflibercept (Eye), and ranibizumab (Lucentis). Retinal ophthalmologists may also administer complement inhibitor injections known as pegcetacoplan (Syfovre), which should receive FDA approval shortly.

These injections have proven very successful at stopping fluid leakage and protecting vision in wet macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy with macular edema, vascular retinal diseases like RP, RVO and uveitis patients. Many have reported improved vision after receiving them regularly for maximum effectiveness.

Due to the power of an anesthetic used to numb the area surrounding their eyes and retina surface, most patients don’t experience any pain during this procedure. Furthermore, injection itself takes only seconds and involves minimal pressure – afterward the ophthalmologist will clean out your eyewash solution and provide aftercare instructions.

Injection-related side effects tend to be mild and can usually be managed using an over-the-counter pain reliever and artificial tears as needed. Patients may experience temporary increased eye pressure; and sometimes a small red spot or hemorrhage at the injection site.

Dependent upon your condition and retinal specialist’s advice, repeated treatments may be required every few weeks or months. This is because the therapy works gradually by blocking abnormal blood vessel growth and stopping fluid leakage – wet macular degeneration patients typically need injections every month while dry macular degeneration patients usually receive them every other week.