As retinal specialists, we give hundreds of intraocular injections (injections into the eye) each month. Patients with macular degeneration, diabetes, vein occlusions, and now macular holes receive injections to treat their disease, often monthly.
When we first tell a patient he or she will be receiving an injection into his or her eye, there is always a degree of fear that the patient feels. After all, an injection in the arm hurts bad enough, how much pain does an injection into the eye cause? The answer, more often than not, surprises the patient- not much. In fact, many patients report not even feeling the injection or feeling only a small amount of pressure.
To prepare for the injection, we numb the eye. Then, we use a very small (30 gauge) needle to inject the medication. Between the numbing and the small needle, the procedure is usually over before the patient knows it.
The day of the injection, patients often report mild stinging or burning in the eye. This is due to a combination of the numbing medicine and the betadine, the medicine we use to kill the bacteria in the eye. The stinging is usually gone by the next day.
If the patient continues to have pain the day after or increasing pain and swelling around the eye, we encourage them to call us immediately to discuss this as it could be a sign of an infection.
So, if you are having an intraocular injection, you can rest easy knowing that most patients experience only mild, if any, discomfort, from the process.
This is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be medical advice. Please consult your physician for medical advice.
