After 7 painful eye injections, I went to a new Retinal specialist for my eye injections and WOW! Big difference! In and out in 35 min, instead of 3-4 hours with other doc! Scan on only wet macular eye. Only one injection instead of 2...(Eylea and Lidocaine) Numbing drops used. New doc said I didn't need dilation each time. No burning with betadine application. (Probably because the numbing drops were done first) . Scan on only wet macular eye. After painless injection the assistant rinsed eye very well and applied antibacterial drops. No thick ointment that the other doc used. I am still amazed that I left the office pain free and did not have to use dry eye drops or anything for pain. I had NO pain at all going home and even later when numbing wore off. This doc is a blessing! I can drive home myself now since eyes were not dilated and sight was clear! I used to have pain for 2-4 days and used dry eye drops at least 6 times a day. I am in the US and can choose my doctor. Sorry this post is so long, but I feel like telling the whole world.
Amazing Painless Procedure with New Doc! - Macular Society
Amazing Painless Procedure with New Doc!
Yes !!! It's all about the skill and technique of the injector. My original retina doc, after examining my eyes, would leave the room and have U.S. ophthalmology students give my injections. My first four were so bad that I'd go straight to bed afterwards.
Then I sent a letter to the head of eye clinic requesting a retina specialist who did their own injections. Got her! After drops, etc., her numbing technique is having an assistant place a tiny cotton ball of lidocaine under my lid. I go back to the waiting room for 10-15 min and then I'm called back in for her injection. The drug Eylea is my ONLY injection!
With the SAME injector (my retina doc) every time there's no more fear, no more stress and no more back to bed for the rest of the day!!!
So happy for u I am also in us but not so luckyvdef better using systane for 2 hours before injection every 10-15 minutes but still painful
thom3patty, will your insurance cover another specialist? I have never heard of systane. Is it a pain reliever or numbing agent? I wish you could go to my doc. in N.C. I would keep searching for a better doc if you can. Good luck to you!
RandyM what doctor do you go to in NC and where are they located?
Simmons, I am so sorry it took me so long to reply to you! I just saw your post this AM. I go to the Retinal Institute of the Carolinas. I see a Dr. Charles Tucker. He is located both at Matthews, NC and also at Charlotte, NC on Randolf Road. If you live nearby, it would be worth going to him. Let me know if you need more info. and good luck!
Systane is artificial tears and not a prescription I have very good insurance upmc pro plan and I live in pa
Erie pa to b exact 
Thom3patty. I used to live in Northeast Chardon OH area and visited Erie, PA quite a few times for camping, recreation, etc. It's a nice area! Maybe your insurance will refer you to a better doc? I think it is worth checking into. Thanks for the info on Systane. i have never used that brand.
Thank you for all your help systane also makes an anytime gel I use when eyes r extra dry works amazingly
I have always been puzzled by the use of an anaesthetic injection. It seems to me to negate its own purpose! They might as well just go ahead with the anti-VEGF shot as assault the eye twice.
Here in the UK I have never encountered the injection method, anaesthetic drops are used. In 79 shots of Avastin or Lucentis I have experienced no pain, just a little pressure due to scar tissue building up in some areas. My 80th one was a steroid implant Ozurdex, intended to last 3 months. This uses a larger needle in order to insert the implant pellet but I never felt that either.
I never heard the Ozurdex implant. I will seek that out if I get anymore painful injections. 79-80 injections without pain is wonderful! I wonder if you continued to have the same person do the injections. It sounds like you had very well trained people doing it correctly.
RandyM
I need to caution you about Ozurdex, I only agreed to it because the Lucentis appeared to be failing. Ozurdex is a steroid which almost certainly will cause cataract. Not too much of an issue for me because it is resolvable and I already have a small one developing as a result of radiation damage. I suffered eye cancer treated 12yrs ago and the radiation causes cystoid macular oedema hence my need for the anti-VEGF shots.
The other potential with a steroid is glaucoma! Over a year ago when Ozurdex was first offered I rejected it because the likelihood of glaucoma was put at 80-100%. I rejected it a second time but since then the oedema has increased also, I discovered some research which suggested that the chances of glaucoma had been overstated and amounted to no more than a few percent.
My retinologist assures me that the failure rate in Liverpool is just 1%.
Just 2 weeks after the implant my eye began to ache but a quick check by my optician revealed the pressure in my eye to be 1 unit LESS than before the implant!
In 2 weeks time I have my first review.
I must have had at least 8 different practitioners over the years varying from the retinologist, Fellows, theatre surgeons and two of the Specialist Clinical nurses. They do not attempt the injection unless I am happy for them to go ahead. Fortunately, St Paul’s Eye Research Centre in Liverpool where I am treated is World Class.
Rennatk, thanks for explaining the Ozurdex, I don't think I want to chance it though. Both of my parents had glaucoma. So sorry you had eye cancer and treatment caused you to have the need for anti-VEGF shots. It does sound like you have more knowledgeable and skilled specialists treating you. I read other posts of folks who, in my opinion, got substandard care from their facility. Eyesight needs to be preserved as much as possible and we are so lucky the anti-VEGF shots are available. Maybe the future will hold more tolerable and effective treatment. Take care.
I can understand your reticence!
Our care depends so much on the practitioners which is very sad. There ought to be no variations just Gold Standard everywhere.
There are at least 3 new alternatives to the existing anti-VEGF drugs being trialled at present, 2 in the USA and 1 in Europe. Hopefully, these will give greater options for successful treatments.
Hi RandyM. You have been very lucky not to have painful injections. Almost all my injections have hurt, whoever actually does the jab. I just have to grin and bear it.
Try asking for them to inject in a different quadrant of the eye. It can help in some cases.
Hi RP1944. This was my new doc so I hope the injections will continue to be non-painful. I am sorry to hear your injections have been painful. Can you change docs like I did? I am in the US and I am on Medicare insurance and allowed to choose my own doc. I decided to choose a new doc after getting numerous painful injections from my old one. It sounds like the UK has facilities where you get who is available. In the US we continue with the same doc each time. I hope you have other options available so you can get a better person doing your procedure. Good Luck to you!
This horrible eye disease is so scary! 
eye injections 
WET AMD INFO NEEDED !
vision drops after injection
