Intravitreal Injection

“Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others.”
– Jonathan Swift

retinal-laser

Intravitreal Injection

Intravitreal Injection is a procedure of placing a medication directly into the space at the back of your eye called the vitreous cavity. This cavity is filled with a jelly-like fluid called the vitreous humor gel. This procedure is best performed by a trained retina specialist as an outpatient procedure.

What is Intravitreal Injection used for?
The Intravitreal Injections are used to administer medications in the vitreous cavity, close to the retina, to treat a variety of retinal conditions.
Some of the common conditions that are treated with Intravitreal Anti-VEGF drugs are:

  • Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
  • CSME (clinically significant macular edema or diabetic macular edema)
  • Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR)
  • Retinal vein occlusions
  • Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy
  • Cystoid macular edema (CME)
  • CNVM (choroidal neovascular membrane) secondary to multiple retinal diseases

Commonly injected Intravitreal Anti-VEGF drugs at BVI: Lucentis, Accentrix, Eylea, Razumab, Zaltrap (off-label), Avastin (off-label)

In addition, Intravitreal steroids are used for patients with:

  • Diabetic retinopathy
  • Retinal vein occlusion
  • Uveitis

Commonly injected Intravitreal steroids at BVI: Ozurdex, Triamcinolone acetonide

Intravitreal antibiotics and steroids are used in patients who have developed Endophthalmitis as a result of injury, other surgeries, etc.

Anti-VEGF drugs and steroids help to reduce fluid leakage associated with such disorders.

Benefits of Intravitreal Injections depend on the ocular pathology being treated, but mainly include improvement of vision or prevention of worsening of the vision by reducing fluid leakage.

Alternatives to Intravitreal injection can include observation, surgery (pars plana vitrectomy), or laser treatment (e.g. photodynamic therapy) depending on the ocular disease.