Injections in the Eye – South Texas Retina Consultants

This procedure is performed in the office and requires a local anesthetic. Before the medicine is injected, the eye is cleaned with an antiseptic. There may be a spot of blood on the white part of the eye where the injection is given. This spot will usually resolve within two weeks. Many times, patients may experience some irritation or scratchy sensation and some blurry vision after the injection.

Intravitreal injections are commonly used to treat age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, and retinal vein occlusion.

Improvements in vision may occur as quickly as a few weeks or may take several injections. Some patients will not experience any improvement in vision. This does not indicate that the medication is not working instead it may be the disease beginning to stabilize.

Medications for Injections

Eylea®

Eylea injection, also known as aflibercept, is a medication that is used to treat the wet form of age-related macular degeneration, also known as AMD or ARMD. Age-related macular degeneration affects the macula, the part of the eye that provides sharp, central vision.

Lucentis®

Lucentis, also known as ranibizumab injection, is a medication that is used to treat the wet form of age-related macular degeneration, also known as AMD or ARMD. Age-related macular degeneration affects the macula, the part of the eye that provides sharp, central vision. Lucentis also slows the development of vascular endothelial growth factor, or VEGF, a protein that causes abnormal blood vessels to grow and leak, damaging the macula. By slowing the development of VEGF, Lucentis aids in the prevention and reversal of vision loss experienced by those patients with macular degeneration. Lucentis was designed specifically for use in the eye and is typically administered once a month with an injection into the eye.

Avastin®

Avastin, also known as bevacizumab, is a medication that is used to treat age-related macular degeneration, also known as AMD, a debilitating eye disease. Avastin works by blocking the body from producing vascular endothelial growth factor, or VEGF, a protein that causes abnormal blood vessels to grow, damaging the macula. Avastin has been shown to improve vision when it is administered on a monthly basis.

Triesence®

Triesence contains triamcinolone, a corticosteroid. It prevents the release of substances in the body that cause inflammation.

Triesence is injected into the eye to treat inflammation caused by disease or injury. It is usually given after steroid eye drops have been used without successful treatment of symptoms. Triesence is also used during a certain type of eye surgery (vitrectomy). You will receive this injection in your doctor's office or other clinic setting.

OZURDEX®