I experience tremendous eye pain for about 12 hours after lucentis injections (not an infection). Does anyone else have this and a solution

[carolreta]

I am 59 and recently diagnosed with Wet MD in one eye. I've now had four injections and my eyesight is improving, but the pain after the injection is not what I look forward to.

[shi-tzu]

Hi Carolrita.I myself have had only one Lucentis injection up to yet..the only after effect I suffered was a throbbing Headache that lasted for a four day period.

I know that the IOP Eye Pressure can rise after the Injection..but this usually normilizes fairly soon..you should report this pain to your R/S In case your pressure stays elevated.. hope you get some answers quickly ...Eve.

[andy1955 Macular Society]

Hi Carolreta,

I am so sorry to hear about your pain after your injections.

There could be a number of causes; we have an information sheet on the subject. If you would like a copy, please email [e-mail]

You should let your eye clinic know about the pain as well as they may be able to advise you further.

Best wishes

Helpline

Macular Society

[carolreta]

Thank you for your responses. I have now requested the leaflet. I have advised the clinic and they have been almost dismissive of my pain, i.e., well as long as it doesn't last more than 12 hours what are you worrying about!

[bfjaz in reply to carolreta]

Same here. I have had 4 injections and told my doctor about the severe pain for up to 12 hours after injection. I am told that no other patient complained and nothing is done. So I come home and take a potent pain killer/sedative and keep myself numbed for 12 hours.

[cormorin]

Hi Carolreta,

Sorry to hear of your problem. I have had 4 injections now & while the injection itself has not been a problem so far, after a couple of hours i do get pain in the eyeball & around the socket. This lasts for a couple of days.

When i rang my Clinic they insisted i went there for a check up & was reassured that nothing was wrong but i could probably expect this each time.

Makes it easier when you get some reassurance so maybe you should ring your Clinic & insist on a check up.

Dont let this put you off the injections as for most of us they are a big help & in my case a bit of improvement.

[andy1955 Macular Society]

Hi again Carol, (and Cormorin)

Your eye clinic should never be dismissive of eye pain post injection.

The factsheet I emailed you Carol, was advice given to us by an eminent consultant ophthalmologist, Mr Winfried Amoaku. He says that eye pain post injection can potentially be serious and should also always be thoroughly investigated, so don't be fobbed off!

Best wishes

Helpline

Macular Society

[Maltese]

I had second Lucentis injection last Wednesday.After anaesthetic wore off I had headache and my eyewas painful. However,after a good nights sleep the pain had gone.The Avastin and Luceentis have reduced the pressure in my eye but not made much improvement in my vision.I'm 71 and would try almost anything to improve my eyesight.Try a couple of painkillers after future injections and good luck.

[JKS44]

I found my eye was extremely painful after my very first Lucentis injection, & was dreading the next ones which were still awful but not as excruciating thankfully. When I mentioned this to my optician (does my glasses) she mentioned it might be a reaction to the cleansing agent rather than the injection.

So I asked at my next injection & they agreed to use more anaesthetic drops & wait a few moments more before cleaning my eye. This has made a huge difference to me - I now insist on extra anaesthetic & waiting before cleaning & each jab has just been a little uncomfortable, but not painful. Before doing this my eye would be too uncomfortable to open & the next day it would feel very gritty & sore - now I can get home from the hospital alone (with sunglasses) & the next day all is back to normal (unless there are a few air bubbles slowly dissipating which can be a bit weird!).

It may be worth discussing this before your next jab. I echo other comments that any pain MUST be checked out & don't be fobbed off if you are unhappy. Hope this works for you as it has for me.

[crazyquilter]

To help aleviate the discomfort post injection I put cold cotton wool cir cular pads over my closed eye, and take 2 ibuprofan tablets to reduce inflamation. Usually after a night's sleep plus this regime as soon as I get home I am almost back to normal. I am so grateful for getting these injections on the nhs. I could not have afforded them privately and would be in a sorry state without them.

[carolreta]

I am delighted to report that my sixth injection caused no pain - they finally used no iodine and instead cleaned the eye with chlorhexidine which seemed to do the job. Thank goodness because I had suffered so much pain after the first five. There are obviously some of us allergic/sensitive to iodine.

[ASTRAFOX]

Hi Carolita,

Yes I know what you are going through, 2/3 hours after my last four injections ,I was crawling up the

wall in agony for 3/4 hours until it subsided, On complaining to the clinic ,I was just fobbed off ,with no explanation at all.

I have had a word with my GP, who knows me well,and knows I can take a bit of pain , he has given me

some liquid morphine to take as soon as the pain starts up ! So I will give it a try in a couple of days,if it works

I shall post it here, and it may help you and others to try the same !!

All the best

Astrafox.

[Katlouib in reply to ASTRAFOX]

Annoys me so much that your clinic dismiss your pain I have read many different patients saying this!

My mother has been treated the same and is now facing the prospect of her sight deteriorating as she is scared stiff of further injections!

[Lizleiper in reply to ASTRAFOX]

Hello Astrafox I know exactly what you are going through . I am exactly the same . I was crawling up the wall as well . Took myself to accident and emergency where I received ananaesthetic drops in my eye . I think maybe 1 drop. Absolute magic ! Pain disappeared entirely . I had 4 hours sleep and woke with the usual bearable pain . Have been to my GP and she gave me a prescription for anaesetic drops . 20 single use drops enough for 20 injections . As the pain does not happen with each injection , it is still good to know I have the drops incase I need to use them . They don’t like giving you those drops as you (“poke”) your eye with something and not notice . You must cover the eye or wear spectacles.

[jake2002]

There is no escape from the pain .Ive had 30 injections pain lasts about 15 hours So your not alone.

[stephencox]

I've said elsewhere, 'cos I was so aprehensive for my first and second injections, don't be reticent or heroic about not explaining how fearful you are ,and even joke about hoping for extra anaestheic drops!

From what others have also said the application of the drops, even several times, before the injection may have a lot to do with minimising discomfort and easing the whole process. I now believe so.

[gilpet]

Reading all of your replies make me realise how lucky I've been -I have had fifteen injections now and I have never had any pain after the injections except on the three occasions when my eye was scratched by the clamp, I'm wondering if this could be the reason why some people find it painful.

[gillmoseley]

I have had about 35 injections over eight years in one eye. A few of my injections have caused distressing pain and soreness when the anaesthetic wears off for between 24 hours to a week but others have been entirely pain free apart from the initial feeling of pressure when the needle goes in - no worse than having blood taken.

I have spoken to other members of the Macular Society informally about this issue. I think there are a number of causes but very little in the way of professional research.

For me I know that excessive use of iodine causes me great soreness. Not pleasant when you can't sleep for the pain. So I ask for caution in this respect when being treated. Also, the experience and gentle, deft approach of certain doctors and consultants makes a huge difference to me. So I refuse to be treated by certain staff whose injections I know have caused me a problem with pain.

Another suggestion is that certain anaesthetics give a bad reaction for some patients. There are various standard types and it is worth asking for details about which is used, so you can monitor this aspect yourself.

I have a low pain threshold, and bruise and burn very easily. Whether this makes a difference I don't know. But having had so many injections, certain factors became obvious.

For the moment, my advice would be to make a note of the factors which lead to relatively pain free injections and work out what it is that is affecting you. Don't be shy of asking for information and talk about your problem with the consultants.

[gillmoseley]

Hello again,

I have recently spoken to one of the ophthalmologists at my local hospital outside of the clinic situation, and it seems that another factor is the amount of time that the eye is exposed with the anaesthetic etc applied without being the patient being able to blink. Apparently, if these substances are left to dry, it can be more difficult for the eye to cleanse itself. I read somewhere, that one patient washes her eye out asap due to known irritation from iodine. This underlines my preference for deft, light handed, quick treatment that I know leaves me with little pain.

[Greeneee]

I was so ill after my third injection. I do not know how I got home from the hospital. went to bed for two days with very strong painkillers. After I was up and about. I noticed that the improvement from the last two injections had stoped, and my right eye is almost as bad as when I was firt diagnosed..I am going for a Fluorescein Angiography on Friday so we wiil see if there has been an improvement.

[Greeneee]

My last injection (my 3rd) I was in so much pain for about 3 days. I could not open my eyes,so I just stayed in bed for most of the time and took very strong pain killers.

I had been a bit down after I was dignosed, but afer this I went into very bad depresion. I refused to have the next injection.very bad lady. I know I will have to carry on with the treatment. I somtimes wish that I was dead.

[carolreta in reply to Greeneee]

I hope you have spoken with the opthamologist because there is no reason you should experience that much pain. I have now had about 20 injections between both eyes and since they stopped using iodine and now clean the eyes with chlorhexidine I have fortunately experienced no more pain. There are other possible explanations but please talk with the specialist. We are very lucky to be able to get the injections, especially if they improve your eyesight which they are doing with mine, altho I realise that it's an ongoing process. I do sincerely Hope you continue with the injections once you have shared your concerns.

[Hidden in reply to Greeneee]

Hello greenee, I was just browsing and came across your post from 7 months ago. I realise time has passed and things will be different now but just felt I needed to send you a hug and acknowledge your trauma. I too have felt that I could not have more inj (my first was horrendous) but I am th ankful that I persisted as they are much better now. It helped me to discuss my experience with the clinic and also to refuse to have a certain dr again.

Sending you very best wishes and hopes that you are now in a better place emotionally - I think we all recognise the despair after the diagnosis but it does get easier to deal with after the shock wears off - hope things are ok for you now x

[Greeneee in reply to Hidden]

Thank vouso much I had both eyes injected yesterday and I wish some 9newould give me hug I am in so much pain and can hardly open my eyes iwanty to sry .

[Hidden in reply to Greeneee]

hi greeneee, I was like this my first few inj, awful pain , really sympathise with you Both eyes must be truly terrible x You don't say if you are having extra anaesthetic, or a different person etc - these helped me enormously and (touch wood) I am now down to about 24hrs of variable discomfort. I do take 2 paracetamol before I go for the inj which I think helps too (maybe all in my head lol). I also use a hot bag after to distract my brain (others use coolness). My clinic gave me hypromellose eye drops for dry eye pain too - not allowed to use hem for at least 24rhs after inj but I find they help later .

I think the placing of the eye clamp, the pressure that is applied, and the time you are laying there unable to blink all make a big difference. Do speak to your clinic, it might be the iodine, they can use something else. Don't suffer if there's something they can still try, and remember you are not alone and it isn't just you (we might be in the minority who feel it but the pain we feel is real and you have the right to ask them to help you cope with all this ) x Best of luck going forward x

[peter60]

Nepafenac ophthalmic suspension is used to treat eye pain, irritation, swelling, and redness following cataract eye surgery. internationaldrugmart.com

[yotboy]

I endorse other comments re post injection flushing. I too react badly to the iodine and have been told to remind the nurse injectors every time about the detailed flushing. They make a real effort to flush they eye 'from every angle'. It works - I have had no post jab problems since.

[carolreta]

I just wanted to post an update. I've now had 32 injections between both eyes, which fortunately are still helping. Instead of using no iodine now, my eye specialist puts two drops of iodine in my eye when I am ready for the injection and then washes it out well. He also puts a patch on my eye after each injection which seems to help stop me blinking which can sometimes scratch the cornea. I then usually take it off after a few hours and I am pleased to say that things have improved tremendously, no more 12 hours of pain. However, I know my specialist's 'boss' still believes that everyone should get the normal amount of iodine (because there is then basically zero percent chance of eye infection) and suffer the consequences, which I find appalling. Obviously he has no idea what eye pain is like!

[BoomDuckman in reply to carolreta]

I just had my second injection and am wondering what type of pain you're associating with the iodine. Is it an acute burning surface of the eye pain? I am experiencing a deep pain in my eye when blinking and moving it around, which to me seems normal the day after an injection. Still figuring all this out.

[carolreta]

BoomDuckman, sorry to hear about your pain. When I experienced it for 12 hours after each of the first five injections, the only way I could describe it was like a hot rod through my eye. It used to be so bad that I didn't think I could face more injections but, of course, I'd rather save my eyesight! My favourite consultant suggested about four solutions, and I'm pleased to say that using only two drops of iodine and washing it out after a few seconds seems to have done the trick. He also puts an eye patch on me to stop me blinking and my eye still waters and stings a little when the anaesthetic wears off, but I am delighted to report that I've had no more pain since those first five injections - and I've now had about 36 between both eyes over about three years. Good luck. Hope you find a solution because I don't think there's anything as bad as eye pain.

[Lizleiper]

I also did have terrible pain after the injections! I have had about 25 now and eyesight Is good. I put antibiotic eye drops , straight from the fridge as often as I want , then antibiotic ointment in last thing at night really helps.I also get a different iodine which they say is pink in colour . I turn my head to the side and then have my eye rinsed really well.

[Rosaura]

This last time I have had pain in one ye for 5 days and mild pain for 7. The are dismissive so will try to go to a different clinic. My eye lid droops too kow and my eye looks smaller. It has been terrible this time.

[Lizleiper]

Helo Carolreta, I too suffer from severe pain after eyelea injections . Have tried everything to relieve the pain ,also told consultants about this . They also have tried many things to try and stop the pain . I have had 30 injections and they have all been pretty painful . No over the counter painkiller works for me . The strange thing is the pain has gone in the morning ! After my last injection I felt quite tired and went to bed when I got home and sept for 2 hours . My eye was still anethitised so was not painful . When I awakened I had no pain for the rest of the day . I think it must be something to do with cornea which drys out with anethetic . So maybe that is the answer. Keep eyes closed after injection . Worth a try Carolreta.