What is it?
An intravitreal injection delivers medicine directly into the vitreous, the gel inside the eye, so that it reaches the retina in effective concentrations. Commonly used medicines include anti-VEGF agents and, for some conditions, corticosteroids.
Why it may be recommended
Injections may be recommended for wet age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular oedema, macular oedema caused by retinal vein occlusion and some other retinal conditions.
How it is performed
The injection is given under sterile conditions after anaesthetic eye drops and cleaning of the eye surface. A very fine needle is used, and the injection itself usually takes only a few moments.
Preparation
Tell the doctor about any eye infection, allergies or recent changes in your health. You may want someone to accompany you on the day of treatment.
Recovery
Mild irritation, a gritty feeling or a small red spot on the white of the eye are common and usually settle within days. Many conditions need a series of injections over time.
Possible risks
Possible risks include infection inside the eye (endophthalmitis), raised eye pressure, inflammation, bleeding and, rarely, retinal detachment. Increasing pain, redness or worsening vision after an injection need urgent assessment.
Follow-up
Treatment intervals are adjusted according to the response, usually guided by vision tests and optical coherence tomography (OCT).
Information on this website is educational and does not replace an in-person medical examination, diagnosis or individual medical advice.