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Intravitreal injections are the first line of treatment for diabetic retinopathy. Proper management of the condition is essential to preserve the vision. If you have been diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy, you should consult expert ophthalmologists to get proper treatment. Book a free consultation with Pristyn Care’s eye specialists and discuss your treatment options in detail.
Intravitreal injections are the first line of treatment for diabetic retinopathy. Proper management ... Read More
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An intravitreal injection is a procedure of administering medications into the retina through the vitreous cavity. A syringe is used to inject the drug or medication inside the eye. These injections are administered for the treatment of retinal conditions, such as diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, retinal vein occlusion, etc.
The medicine used in these injections can be an anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) drug or steroids, whichever is effective for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy. This method is chosen for the treatment of mild to moderate non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy treatment.
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Pristyn Care is a dedicated healthcare provider where every patient can get comprehensive treatment for diabetic retinopathy and other eye-related conditions. We have multiple eye clinics across various cities to make proper treatment easily accessible for everyone.
At each eye center, we have a highly experienced team of ophthalmologists who are well-trained and have ample expertise in administering anti-VEGF and steroid injections. Under the care of our eye specialists, you will get optimal treatment. You can give us a call and book your free consultation with an eye specialist.
Administering intravitreal injections is a clinical procedure. They can be given to the patient by placing them on a reclined chair. The steps involved are explained below-
This entire procedure takes about 10-15 minutes per eye.
Usually, there will be no side-effect after administration of the injection. There will be no restrictions after taking the intravitreal injection. The only thing you have to do is to avoid potential contamination of the eye after the procedure.
For some time, you might feel like something is stuck in your eye, which is normal. But make sure that you don’t rub them. The eye specialist will give you the timeline for the next injection and also prescribe artificial tears to prevent dryness and surface irritation.
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In some cases, the patient may develop the following complications-
This medicine/drug halt the growth of the protein- vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which causes overgrowth of the blood vessels in the retina. The overproduction of VEGF increases the permeability of the existing blood vessels, which causes them to leak. At the same time, the protein also results in the growth of new blood vessels that also bleed and leak fluid due to lack of oxygen.
The anti-VEGF medicine prevents the production of the protein that causes abnormal blood vessel growth. Therefore, it slows down the progression of diabetic retinopathy. The two most widely used anti-VEGF drugs are Lucentis (ranibizumab) and Avastin (bevacizumab). Both are monoclonal antibodies that bind various forms of VEGF and help to keep the condition in control.
Three synthetic corticosteroids, i.e., triamcinolone acetonide, dexamethasone phosphate, and fluocinolone acetonide, are used to address diabetic retinopathy and other diabetes-related eye disorders. The steroid helps to stabilize and reconstitute the BRB, which constricts the capillaries and downregulates the angiogenic and inflammatory angiogenic cytokine expression. This preserves the visual function for the long term.
The steroids are known to be effective to some extent, but at the same time, they increase eye pressure which increases the risk of developing glaucoma.
This treatment method involves using a laser to stabilize the new blood vessels that are weak and leaking. The heat from the laser creates small burns on the abnormal blood vessels and seals them properly. This helps to reduce the swelling in the retina by shrinking the blood vessels and preventing them from growing further. Multiple sessions of laser treatment are required to effectively inhibit blood vessel growth.
Surgical treatment is usually recommended to the patient in case of proliferative diabetic retinopathy in which a large amount of blood has collected in the gel, and there are extensive scar tissues. It involves the removal of some or all of the vitreous humor from the eye and replacing it with silicone oil or saline solution. A gas bubble may also be inserted to reattach the retina.
If diabetic retinopathy is not controlled or treated on time, the damage to the retinal blood vessels can be severe. Due to diabetes, the condition will continue progressing, and the blood and fluid from the abnormal blood vessels will leak into the vitreous humor. This damages the retina and also increases the risk of developing macular edema.
The condition can ultimately lead to permanent vision loss. Therefore, seeking treatment as soon as possible is crucial.
No, the eyes are numbed before injecting the medicine. Thus, you won’t feel any kind of pain or discomfort while the injection is being administered.
The number of injections that will be required to slow down the progression of diabetic retinopathy usually depends on your response to the first injection. If the intravitreal injections are effective, they will be given at regular intervals. If not, then alternative treatment methods will be considered.
No, the injections are helpful in preventing further damage to the eye but cannot help to regain lost vision. The damage done to the blood vessels is irreversible. Thus, you might ask the doctor to determine the best method to regain vision.
A person with diabetic retinopathy can’t be given anti-VEGF injections in the following scenarios-
If the intravitreal injections stop working, the eye specialist will recommend using either laser surgery or vitrectomy, depending on the severity of the condition.
