What is intravitreal injection?
Intravitreal injection is a treatment used in visual degenerations, such as diabetic macular edema and retinal vessel thrombosis in exudative age-related macular degeneration, as well as in inflammations such as uveitis. Therapy is based on the use of anti-VEGF drugs that act as inhibitors of new blood vessel formation or anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive drugs.
Why is it done?
The injection of drugs directly into the eye has been shown to reduce the progression of most visual pathologies and to have a faster postoperative recovery.
What does it consist of?
Intravitreal injection is performed under local anesthesia induced by specific eye drops in a sterile operating room. Thanks to the use of a tool called blepharoostat, the eyelids are blocked avoiding the closure of the eye and the risks for the patient. The procedure is extremely fast, no more than a few minutes, and the discomfort to which the patient is subjected is minimal.
The specialist performs the injection into the aqueous humor, near the retina, at the back of the eye. Because of the in situ injection of the medication, eye diseases are more easily blocked. Possible risks associated with the procedure include:
- Retinal hemorrhage
- Vision disorders
- Blepharitis
- Excessive tearing
- Headache
- Vitreitis
- Vitreous detachment
- Dry eyes
- Endophthalmitis
- Retinal lesions
- Cataracts
- Thromboembolism
Preparation for intravitreal injection
Before evaluating the treatment, it is important to inform the specialist if you have cardiac or vascular problems, as well as allergies to particular excipients, since these are considered risk factors.
The surgery is performed in the operating room with the patient lying supine. The specialist will begin by disinfecting the eye area and the conjunctival sac area. Subsequently, using a microscope, the injections will be made 4.0 mm from the limbus, the junction area between the cornea and the sclera, through the conjunctival route.
At the discretion of the specialist, it may also be necessary to perform ocular pressure control with a paracentesis, i.e., a microintervention to collect excess fluid in the aqueous humor.
Postoperative recovery
After the operation, the patient will be able to return to daily routines in a short time and specific eye drops will be used to facilitate faster healing. Subsequently, a check-up after 2-3 days and another one after one month will be needed to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment and the visual acuity.