Eye injections deliver medication directly into the eye for conditions like macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy. Recovery is generally straightforward, though the specific experience can vary from person to person.
What to Expect Immediately After
Immediately after an eye injection, patients often experience common sensations. Your eye might feel mildly uncomfortable, gritty, or as if something is present, which can be a reaction to the antiseptic solution used to clean the eye. This feeling can also be due to the medication or the effect of the numbing drops. Vision may appear blurry or hazy, and you might notice floaters. These floaters are typically tiny air bubbles introduced during the injection and usually disappear within 24 to 48 hours. Mild discomfort or a stinging sensation is also common soon after the procedure.
Managing the First Week of Recovery
During the first week, initial symptoms gradually resolve. Mild pain or discomfort is common for 24 to 48 hours, manageable with over-the-counter pain relievers like paracetamol or ibuprofen, if approved by your doctor. Applying a cool compress gently over the closed eyelid can help alleviate discomfort. Your eye might appear red or bloodshot at the injection site due to a small bruise, which is normal and typically fades within one to two weeks.
Avoid rubbing the injected eye to prevent a scratch, especially while numbing drops are active. Limit activities like swimming or getting water directly into the eye for at least two days. Strenuous activities and wearing contact lenses should also be avoided for a couple of days. Most patients feel significantly better by the morning after the procedure, with continued improvement throughout the second day.
Achieving Full Recovery and Recognizing Complications
Most common symptoms following an eye injection, such as mild irritation, redness, and floaters, usually resolve within a week. While the eye may feel almost completely normal within one to two weeks, vision might continue to improve over a longer period depending on the underlying condition being treated. Attending follow-up appointments is important to monitor your recovery and the effectiveness of the treatment.
Recognize signs that indicate a complication requiring immediate medical attention. These include severe or worsening eye pain, a significant decrease in vision, new or increased flashes of light, a sudden increase in floaters, persistent redness, increased swelling, or any discharge from the eye. These signs could point to an infection or retinal detachment, and should be reported to your ophthalmologist without delay.