Various intraocular injections are used for some eye conditions. The most common of these are:
- Retinal bleeding and edema due to diabetes
- Macular Degeneration
- Severe intraocular inflammation
In cases of bleeding due to diabetes, intraocular injections are administered to reduce bleeding depending on the extent of the bleeding or to prepare for vitrectomy surgery. Intraocular injections are also administered for cases of diabetic macular edema, a fluid accumulation in the visual cortex. Repeated injections may be necessary depending on the course of the case. Similarly, when retinal circulatory disorders, called ischemia, are detected in diabetes without bleeding or leakage, intraocular injections are administered to prevent the formation of extravasated blood vessels and to prepare for argon laser treatment.
In the wet form of macular degeneration, repeated intraocular injections are administered to shrink the vascular membranes at the visual cortex and to reduce bleeding and leakage. In these cases, at least three injections are required initially, at least one month apart. Repeat injections may be necessary later, depending on the course of the case. Intraocular injections are the most effective treatment for bleeding and edema due to retinal vein occlusions. In these cases, a single injection may be sufficient, or up to ten injections may be necessary, depending on the eye's condition. Patients undergoing vitrectomy, particularly for complications related to diabetes, receive a preparatory injection a few days before the surgery. In these cases, the injection prevents any bleeding that may occur during the surgery.
The injection is administered using the finest syringes, typically 3 mm from the edge of the pupil, through the sclera, the white part of the eye. It is administered under eyedrop anesthesia. Patients generally experience no pain. The eye is prepared as if undergoing surgery, and the procedure is performed under sterile conditions. While this is sometimes performed in non-sterile environments, such as examination rooms, outside the operating room, we do not recommend this practice and perform the injection in the operating room. After the procedure, the patient can return to their normal daily activities. It is beneficial to cover the eye for a few hours. Antibiotic drops are required for a few days.
