Patient Education
Intravitreal Injections
In-office · about 10–15 minutes
An intravitreal injection delivers medication directly into the vitreous gel inside the eye, placing the drug exactly where it is needed instead of relying on it to travel there through the bloodstream. It is the most common retinal procedure performed today.
An intravitreal injection delivers medication directly into the vitreous gel inside the eye, placing the drug exactly where it is needed instead of relying on it to travel there through the bloodstream. It is the most common retinal procedure performed today. The injection itself takes only a few seconds, and most patients describe a sensation of pressure rather than pain.
What It Treats
- Wet macular degeneration
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Diabetic macular edema
- Retinal vein occlusion
- Uveitis and inflammatory swelling
- Cystoid macular edema
What to Expect
Before
Your eye is dilated and numbed with drops or gel, and sometimes with a small amount of anesthetic placed under the surface tissue. The eyelids and surface of the eye are cleaned with a povidone-iodine antiseptic, and a small holder keeps your eyelids open so nothing touches the injection site.
During
You will be asked to look away from the doctor. The medication is given through the white of the eye, a few millimeters behind the colored part, in an area that avoids the lens and the retina itself. It takes only a few seconds. Some patients briefly see dark streaks or bubbles afterward — that is the medication itself, and it settles quickly.
After
The eye is rinsed and the lid holder removed. Vision is blurry for a few hours from the antiseptic and the dilation. A scratchy, gritty feeling for the rest of the day is common and comes from the antiseptic, not the needle. A small red patch on the white of the eye is harmless and fades over one to two weeks.
Recovery & Restrictions
- Arrange a driver — dilation and blurring make driving unsafe for the rest of the day.
- Preservative-free artificial tears help the scratchy feeling from the antiseptic.
- Avoid rubbing the eye, swimming, and hot tubs for the rest of the day.
- Most people are back to normal activity the next morning.
- Injections are given on a repeating schedule — often every four to twelve weeks — and the interval is adjusted based on what your OCT scan shows.
Risks & Side Effects
Infection inside the eye (endophthalmitis)
Rare but serious. Increasing pain, worsening vision, or new light sensitivity in the days after an injection is not normal — call the office immediately rather than waiting for your next appointment.
Bleeding on the surface of the eye
A red patch where the needle entered is common, causes no harm, and clears on its own. It can look dramatic in the mirror.
Raised eye pressure
Pressure often rises briefly right after the injection and settles within minutes. Steroid medications can raise pressure over a longer period, which is why pressure is checked at follow-up visits.
Floaters
New floaters after an injection are common and usually settle over days. A sudden shower of floaters with flashes or a shadow is different and needs prompt evaluation.
Retinal tear or detachment
Uncommon, but the reason any new curtain, shadow, or burst of flashes after an injection should be reported the same day.
Every procedure carries risk, and this list is not exhaustive. Your doctor will discuss the risks that apply to your eye and your circumstances before you decide.