Intravitreal administration

Intravitreal Administration

Intravitreal administration (pronunciation: in-tra-vit-ree-al ad-min-is-tra-tion) is a medical procedure that involves the injection of medications directly into the vitreous humor of the eye.

Etymology

The term "intravitreal" is derived from the Latin words "intra" meaning within, and "vitreus" meaning glassy, referring to the vitreous humor's glass-like transparency.

Procedure

Intravitreal administration is commonly used in the treatment of various eye diseases and conditions, such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and retinal vein occlusion. The procedure allows for high concentrations of drugs to be delivered directly to the retina and other internal structures of the eye, bypassing the blood-eye barrier and reducing systemic side effects.

Related Terms

Vitreous Humor: The clear, gel-like substance that fills the space between the lens and the retina of the eyeball.
Macular Degeneration: A medical condition which may result in blurred or no vision in the center of the visual field.
Diabetic Retinopathy: A diabetes complication that affects eyes, caused by damage to the blood vessels of the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye (retina).
Retinal Vein Occlusion: A blockage of the small veins that carry blood away from the retina.
Blood-Eye Barrier: A barrier that separates the bloodstream from the inner part of the eye, protecting it from infections and inflammation.