iodine or injection?

My sister had her last injection on 29th Jan, she found the iodine very painful when it was put into her eye, this was not her first injection shes has had many before and not had this problem but after her injection her eye was very red , when I saw her a few days after her eye was completely bloodshot not just red but could see blood ,in the white went back to the eye clinic to find that something had been ruptured in the eye and it could take 4to5 weeks to clear, I presume it was the injection and not the iodine that caused this, the eye remains painful she was given some stronger eye drops by the clinic and told to take paracetamol before bed as the pain had been keeping her awake.

[Macular_1]

Hi Molly,

So sorry to learn about your sister.

Whilst I cannot be sure, I suspect that the injection itself will be the cause of the bloodshot eye. It is unlikely that the betadine eye wash would have been the cause.

I think that you have seen our factsheet about 'pain in the eye after injections', but it is at the following link;

macularsociety.org/sites/de...

Best wishes

Macular Society

[susanTL in reply to Macular_1]

I hope the remedies worked.

when I have an injection theyalways ask about iodine. I think theyuse something else to disinfect. They always saygo to the Eye Hospital A & E. I did this once and they did the usual examination and said they would tell my consultant. Lucilyit wasn't anything dire but I felt it had been a waste of time, and that I was being fobbed off. Could the macular society perhaps send somemessage to eye clinics/hosopitals advising them what they can epect at A & E? Susan TL

[Macular_1 in reply to susanTL]

Hi Susan,

I am afraid that the service from A&Es is so diverse that we couldn't really give any specific advise. All we know is that there is usually a wait!

If someone does have a post injection problem, they will usually have been given a separate number to call for advice.

Best wishes

Macular Society

[tallyho]

Hi there it sounds as if a blood vessel was burst on the front of the eye when the injection was given. This can happen especially if lots of injections have already been given. If this is the case it will resolve without any issues. The pain may be linked to the iodine or dry eyes. I recently started to get dry eyes and my injection was very painful for 2 months and now using a drop for dry eyes before an injection made a world of difference. If it is dry eye then that can be easily detected by the ophthalmologist if it is the iodine then an iodine flush can be given after the injection. Or maybe a lesser percentage given ( if it’s 10% give 5%) perhaps ? Anyhow sorry to hear of the issues and hope they can be resolved. Best wishes. Tallyho

[Hidden in reply to tallyho]

Many thanks for the info I will certainly pass it on , had not given a thought about the dry eye condition.

[Catseyes235]

I have told anyone giving injection about any pain and grittiness so get lots of anaesthetic drops and well washed after plus learnt to keep using as many viscotears or similar drops as needed every time I feel the slightest grittiness post injection and this seems to flush iodine crystals out well. Only had two lots of paracetamol last time. Make sure drops stored properly and not used beyond use by. Viscotears liquid gel is good for night time use. Hope that helps.

[Hidden]

Catseyes 235 Thanks for the advice which I will pass on, I know my sister gets eye drops to take home and use, but i don't know if they are the same ones you mention.