There are diseases of the eye for which surgery is not a treatment option. For example,certain problems with the blood vessels inside the eye. These vessels can get inflamed (swollen) and may affect vision as well. Such disorders of the eye can be treated by directly injecting medicines in the eye. these injections are called intravitreal injections.
What is the Procedure of Intravitreal Injections?
intravitreal injections are given after numbing the eye. This is done by using eyedrops repeatedly at intervals of about ten minutes. And the injection process is fast. Hence, contrary to apprehensions, intravitreal injections are not painful. In fact, after the injection, people tend to ask “Is that all?”. Two types of injections are normally used for different eye defects.
What are the Types of Intravitreal Injections?
· Cortisone injections – These injections are becoming popular against several retinal defects. Injection is the preferred form of administration of these drugs because of reduced side effects to the rest of the body.They reduce the inflammation which occurs in macular edema (swelling) such as diabetic retinopathy, occlusion of the central retinal vein, and any post-operative macular edema. Possible side effects of cortisoneinjections are a high intraocular pressure (IOP), and cataract (clouding of the lens)
· Anti VEGF injections – Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), also known as vascular permeability factor (VPF) is a protein that commands enhancement of blood flow by generation of blood micro vessels when required. However, an overexpression of this will cause diseases in the retina (and elsewhere in the body). Anti VEGF injections are the preferred treatment for such diseases.