Why Medication Is Delivered Inside the Eye
Certain retinal conditions — notably diabetic macular oedema, wet age-related macular degeneration and retinal vein occlusion — respond to medicines that must reach the retina in meaningful concentration. Eye drops and tablets do not deliver these medicines effectively to the back of the eye, so they are given by a small injection into the vitreous cavity, performed under strict sterile conditions in a clinic or day-care setting.
The main drug classes are anti-VEGF agents (which reduce abnormal vessel growth and leakage) and corticosteroids (which reduce inflammation and swelling). Specific drug choice depends on the condition, prior response, lens status, pressure considerations and availability — this page discusses classes, not brands.
What Happens on Injection Day
The eye is prepared with antiseptic (usually povidone-iodine), anaesthetised with drops or gel, and a sterile drape and speculum keep the procedure clean. The injection itself takes seconds. Most patients describe pressure more than pain. You will rest briefly afterwards and receive written aftercare before leaving.
Treatment commonly follows a structured course: an initial series of injections, then a personalised interval or treat-and-extend plan guided by examination and OCT response. There is no universal fixed schedule — the plan adapts to your eye.
Benefits, Risks and Aftercare
Injections have transformed outcomes for conditions that previously had limited options, and many patients gain or preserve meaningful vision. Honesty requires the other side too: benefits build over repeated visits, results vary, and stopping follow-up risks losing gained ground.
Serious complications are uncommon but important to know: infection inside the eye (endophthalmitis), retinal tear or detachment, bleeding, pressure rise and inflammation. Warning signs — increasing pain, redness, light sensitivity, sudden floaters or vision drop — require same-day review, and this advice is given in writing every time. Routine aftereffects such as a small red patch on the white of the eye or new floaters usually settle and are explained at discharge.
Common questions
Do eye injections hurt?
Anaesthesia makes the injection brief and generally well tolerated; most people feel pressure rather than pain.
How long does each visit take?
The procedure is seconds; the visit (prep, checks, discharge advice) typically fits within an hour or two depending on the centre.
How many injections will I need?
A common pattern is a monthly loading phase then individualised spacing. The number is driven by response on OCT and examination.
Can I stop once vision improves?
Stopping without a plan risks relapse and vision loss. Decisions to pause or extend intervals are made with your specialist based on imaging.
What is a 'floater' after injection?
A bubble of medication or a small bleed can appear as a new floaty spot; most settle. Sudden showers of floaters or a curtain need urgent review.
Are the medicines safe long-term?
Large studies support their use with ongoing monitoring. Risks are individual and reviewed at every visit, especially with steroids and pressure.
Can injections cause blindness?
Serious infection is rare but vision-threatening, which is why sterile technique and the written warning signs matter so much.
Do I need someone to accompany me?
It is sensible, particularly for the first visits, as brief blur or light sensitivity can follow.
Do blood thinners need to be stopped?
Not routinely, and never on your own initiative — the team reviews your medicines and coordinates with your physician if needed.
Are there alternatives to injections?
Depending on the condition: observation, laser, or surgery. Alternatives and their trade-offs are part of every consent conversation.