The advantage of subconjunctival injections over drops and pills for treating complex eye diseases is undeniable. Although it is a more complicated and demanding process, excellent results are achieved with proper application.
- This treatment is performed strictly in a hospital.
- Only an experienced and qualified ophthalmologist can administer the injections.
- The presence of a nurse is also necessary.
Subconjunctival injections are an effective method of treating severe diseases of the visual system. For many patients, this procedure is very unpleasant, but the result is justified.
Indications
These injections are prescribed for the following diseases:
- Keratitis – occurs due to an infectious lesion of the cornea;
- Conjunctivitis – has several types, accompanied by inflammation caused by bacteria and viruses;
- Uveitis – it affects the vasculature of the eye;
- Iritis – irritation of the iris;
- Scleritis – pathological changes in the whites of the eyes;
- neuroretinitis – disease of the retinal cells;
- spondyloarthritis – lesion of the spine and organs of the visual apparatus;
- rheumatoid arthritis – a disease that causes vascular deformities;
- diabetes mellitus;
- thrombosis;
- circulatory disorders in the main brain;
- inflammatory processes in the postoperative period;
- severe trauma;
- intraocular hemorrhage;
- Severe stage of myopia.
Such therapy is mostly carried out only in severe cases. The result of such treatment shows high effectiveness.
How is it done
Before the injection, it is necessary to check the sterility of all devices. Using a syringe, drugs are injected under the conjunctiva. Doctors use insulin syringes for this procedure because they have the thinnest needle.
It also helps reduce the risk of damage to nearby tissues. The injection can be done by an experienced nurse or doctor. In this case, all steps are carried out in turn:
- Before the injection, local anesthesia is given with eye drops. They must be injected 2-3 times at an interval of 30 seconds.
- The patient should look up so that the lower part of the eye is free.
- The syringe should be filled with the drug, but not more than 0.5 ml.
- The conjunctiva is punctured and the medicine is injected. The angle of inclination should be 45 degrees.
- Slowly the needle is pulled out. The patient should sit with their eyes closed for 10 minutes.
If the injection is done correctly, the patient does not complain of pain. There is no visual disturbance of any kind, and the pupils are of normal size. The person should feel good and have no discomfort. If there are unpleasant sensations, it indicates that the procedure is not performed correctly. This can cause unpleasant consequences and complications.
Patient Testimonials
Feedback from patients who have had this treatment:
Jessica: The doctor diagnosed scleritis. There was not much result from the medications. That is why the ophthalmologist recommended me to take a course of treatment with subconjunctival injections. Initially I was very scared, because I have had a phobia of injections since childhood. The doctor did a very good job, so I am satisfied with the result. The treatment is not cheap, but it is better than spending money on drugs that do not work.
Liz: I was prescribed injections for severe blepharitis. I was very nervous before such procedures and it took me a long time to choose an experienced doctor. The process is very unpleasant, but the result is worth it. The main thing is not to think about what the doctor does and to listen to his instructions. It’s scary to agree to such treatment, but if it’s important for your eyesight, you shouldn’t hesitate.
Q&A
What is intravitreal injection and why is it better than eye drops?
Intravitreal injection is an injection that injects medication directly into the eye (vitreous body). Conventional eye drops cannot adequately affect the processes in the retina, because they do not penetrate sufficiently into the retina. The retina is a hard target for medication, so the medication to be used will not reach the retina unless introduced directly into the eyeball.
What is the difference between a subconjunctival injection and an intravitreal injection?
As described above, an intravitreal injection is an injection directly inside the eye. A subconjunctival injection is performed just under the thin outer layer of the eye which covers the sclera (the visible white part of the eye). It does not get the drug into the retina.
Is intravitreal injection a painful procedure? What will I feel after the injection?
Most patients do not feel any pain during intravitreal injections because before the procedure they put drops with anesthetic and anesthetic injection. More often than not, most patients do not even realize that they have already been injected. However, after the effect of the anesthesia wears off, you may feel a burning sensation or mild pain caused by the powerful antiseptic before and after the injection.