The idea of an injection into the eye can naturally cause apprehension for many individuals, leading to concerns about potential discomfort. While the thought might initially seem daunting, eye injections are a common medical practice, and patients generally tolerate them well. The procedure is designed with patient comfort as a focus, often making the experience less intimidating than it might initially appear. These injections deliver medication directly into the eye to treat various retinal conditions, aiming to preserve vision.
Understanding the Injection Process
An intravitreal injection delivers medication directly into the vitreous cavity, the gel-filled space at the back of the eye. This procedure is typically performed in an office setting by a retina specialist. The entire process, from preparation to completion, usually takes about 10 to 15 minutes.
Before the injection, the eye and eyelids are cleaned, often using an antiseptic solution like povidone-iodine, which is effective at killing bacteria. An eyelid speculum is then used to gently hold the eyelids open, preventing blinking during the brief procedure.
Once the eye is prepared, the patient is asked to look in a specific direction. A small, thin needle is used to inject the medicine through the pars plana, which is the white part of the eye, also known as the sclera. The needle is advanced into the mid-vitreous cavity, and the solution is gently injected.
Minimizing Discomfort
Patient comfort is a significant consideration during eye injections, and medical professionals employ several methods to reduce or eliminate pain. Before the procedure begins, topical anesthetic drops are applied to the eye surface to numb it. These drops, which often contain agents like proparacaine, tetracaine, or lidocaine, work by temporarily blocking nerve conduction in the cornea and conjunctiva, thereby preventing pain signals. This numbing effect means that during the actual injection, patients typically report feeling pressure rather than sharp pain.
Some patients describe a dull sensation or a feeling of something “breaking through the surface” rather than a piercing pain. The needle used is very fine, often 30 or 32-gauge, contributing to the minimal sensation. The quickness of the injection, which takes only a moment, also limits the duration of any perceived sensation. Medical teams prioritize ensuring that the eye is adequately anesthetized before proceeding, sometimes even using a small numbing injection in addition to drops.
Post-Injection Sensations
Following an eye injection, it is common to experience certain sensations as the anesthetic wears off. Many patients report a feeling of scratchiness, mild irritation, or a foreign body sensation in the eye. This discomfort often occurs due to the antiseptic solution, such as povidone-iodine, used to clean the eye before the injection, which can temporarily irritate the eye’s surface. This initial feeling is mild and resolves within a day or two.
A small red spot, known as a subconjunctival hemorrhage, may also appear on the white part of the eye at the injection site. This results from a broken capillary and is painless, clearing on its own within one to two weeks. Temporary blurry vision or mild floaters can also occur. Mild post-injection irritation can be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers or artificial tears. However, persistent or worsening discomfort, or a significant decrease in vision, warrants immediate contact with the clinic.