Eye Injection: Does an Intravitreal Injection Hurt?

The very thought of an injection into the eye causes anxiety. In practice, however, the fear is usually worse than the actual sensations. The eye is numbed before the medicine is given, so most patients do not feel significant pain. You may feel brief pressure, a touch or mild discomfort. If you are wondering whether an intravitreal injection is painful, keep in mind that sensitivity varies from person to person: it is impossible to rule out every sensation, but the injection itself lasts only a few seconds.

What an intravitreal injection is and why it is needed

Intravitreal injections deliver medicine directly into the vitreous body, close to the retina. Eye drops act mainly on the surface of the eye, and tablets do not always achieve the necessary concentration of the drug in the retinal tissue.

Intravitreal injections are prescribed for wet age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular oedema, retinal vein occlusion and other conditions. The decision is made by an ophthalmologist after diagnostic tests. When explaining why eye injections are needed, the doctor considers the specific goal: to reduce swelling, suppress the growth of abnormal blood vessels, preserve vision or lower the risk of further deterioration.

Does an eye injection hurt?

Patients usually feel slight pressure or a brief touch. Sometimes there is a sensation of a small prick, but severe pain is not considered normal. When a patient asks whether an eye injection hurts, the doctor also takes into account their sensitivity and anxiety. During the injection, all you need to do is avoid sudden movements and look in the direction you are told. The eyelids are held in place, so you cannot accidentally blink at the crucial moment.

How the eye is numbed before the injection

Before the procedure, anaesthetic drops or gel are applied to reduce the sensitivity of the eye's surface. So the answer to whether the eye is numbed before the injection is clear: local anaesthesia is a mandatory part of the preparation.

The eyelids and the eye are then cleaned with an antiseptic to reduce the risk of infection. A special speculum gently holds the eyelids open. You do not need to keep your eye wide open yourself.

How an eye injection is done

The patient lies down or reclines. After numbing and antiseptic treatment, the doctor asks you to look in a certain direction. The medicine is injected with a very fine needle through the white of the eye directly into the vitreous body.

The intravitreal injection itself takes a few seconds. The preparation takes longer, but a hospital stay is usually not required. After the injection, the doctor examines the eye, gives recommendations and, if necessary, checks the eye pressure.

How an Eylea injection is given

Eylea is an anti-VEGF medicine used to treat retinal diseases. An intravitreal Eylea injection follows the standard procedure: numbing, antiseptic treatment and injection of the medicine through the white of the eye.

An Eylea injection itself should not be more painful than any other medicine given the same way. What differs are the indications and the treatment schedule. The doctor sets the intervals based on examination results and optical coherence tomography, so you should not skip scheduled procedures on your own.

What the patient feels during and after the injection

During the injection, most people feel pressure or brief discomfort. Right after the procedure, vision may be temporarily blurred, and sometimes floating specks, a bubble or a small shadow appear in the field of vision. They usually fade gradually.

When explaining what a patient feels during an eye injection, it is important to separate the sensations caused by the injection from those caused by the antiseptic. A gritty feeling, dryness or mild stinging are often due to the antiseptic irritating the surface of the eye. A small red spot may appear on the white of the eye. This is usually a superficial haemorrhage that clears up gradually.

What not to do after an eye injection

After the procedure, do not rub or press on the eye or touch it with unwashed hands. On the day of the injection, it is important to avoid contaminated water. Swimming pools and other activities that increase the risk of infection are temporarily restricted on your doctor's advice.

The list of things you should not do after an eye injection does not include giving up your phone, reading or walks entirely. If your vision is blurred, it is better to reduce the strain on your eyes, and you should not drive until your vision is sharp again. Prescribed drops should be used strictly as directed.

When to see a doctor urgently

Mild irritation and a small red spot may be an expected reaction. However, increasing pain, marked redness, a sudden drop in vision, increased sensitivity to light or a sudden appearance of many floaters require urgent contact with an ophthalmologist.

If your condition gets worse, do not wait for your scheduled appointment, rinse the eye with random solutions or use drops that were not prescribed. Complications are rare, but in such a situation a prompt examination is especially important.

Should you be afraid of an intravitreal injection?

Patients often worry about whether an eye injection is painful. In reality, the injection usually causes less discomfort than people imagine beforehand. Before the medicine is given, the surface of the eye is numbed and the eyelids are gently held open with a speculum. This means you do not have to keep your eye open yourself, and the injection itself takes only a few seconds.

Feeling nervous before your first procedure is natural, but you should not put off prescribed treatment out of fear. The intravitreal route delivers medicine directly to the structures of the eye that need treatment. Discuss the procedure, possible reactions and aftercare with your doctor in advance. When you understand each step, it becomes much easier to cope with anxiety.