Eye shots, also known as intravitreal injections, work by delivering medication directly into the eyeball to treat specific eye conditions.
Understanding Intravitreal Injections
If your ophthalmologist suggests eye injections, it means medication needs to be applied directly inside your eye. These shots, called intravitreal injections, target the vitreous humor, the gel-like substance that fills the space between the lens and the retina. This allows for the medication to reach the retina and other inner structures of the eye effectively.
Conditions Treated with Eye Shots
Eye shots are commonly used to treat conditions like:
- Diabetic eye disease
- Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
- Retinal vein occlusion
The Injection Procedure
Although the thought of a needle in your eye can be scary, the procedure is typically quick and relatively painless. While specific procedures can vary slightly from doctor to doctor, the most common steps include:
- Anesthesia: The eye is numbed with anesthetic drops to minimize discomfort.
- Sterilization: The eye and surrounding area are thoroughly cleaned to prevent infection.
- Injection: A small needle is used to inject the medication into the vitreous humor.
