Intravitreal Injections

Intravitreal Injections

Intravitreal injection involves injecting medications directly into the eye.

The most common diseases treated include Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular oedema, and retinal vein occlusion.

The injection is always done with anaesthetic eye drops to numb the surface of the eye. Dr Karagiannis performs these injections in our treatment room under sterile conditions. The injection is delivered into the mid-vitreous cavity of the eye. The injection is done from the side and hence is not seen by the patient. The injection is most often painless, but there can be some mild discomfort during it and after for a few hours. There is commonly a floater in the vision for a day or two after the injection, which is the drug inside the eye.

Like all drugs, the affect wears off over time and hence it is very common to need repeat intravitreal injections.

The most common drugs that are used for intravitreal injection are Lucentis, Eylea and Avastin.