Intravitreal injection

Intravitreal injection is a medical procedure that involves injecting medication directly into the eye's vitreous, which is the jelly-like substance that fills the back part of the eye. This procedure is commonly used to treat various eye diseases and conditions, such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and retinal vein occlusion.

Procedure

The procedure for an intravitreal injection typically involves the following steps:

1. The patient's eye is numbed with anesthetic eye drops.
2. The eye is cleaned with an antiseptic solution to prevent infection.
3. A small device may be used to keep the eye open during the procedure.
4. The doctor uses a very fine needle to inject the medication into the vitreous.
5. After the injection, the doctor will check the patient's eye to make sure there are no complications.

Risks and Complications

Like any medical procedure, intravitreal injections carry some risks. These may include:

• Infection
• Bleeding
• Retinal detachment
• Cataract
• Glaucoma
• Vision loss

Patients should discuss these risks with their doctor before undergoing an intravitreal injection.

Aftercare

After the procedure, patients may experience some discomfort or blurred vision. These symptoms should improve within a few days. Patients should avoid rubbing their eye and should use any prescribed eye drops as directed by their doctor.

See Also

• Eye diseases
• Macular degeneration
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Retinal vein occlusion

• 
  Three main layers of the eye
• 
  Right eye: 4 quadrants
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  Limbus