My silicone bubble is back.

[Jihm]

Some moths ago I reported that the silicone bubble I had gotten in my eye from a Avastin injection, for wet AMD, had floated above my field of vision at last, and was no longer my constant companion. Today I did some intensive "spring cleaning", furniture moving and such too. The bubble left its resting place, and is back to bouncing around my field of vision as before. So, I just wanted others to know that silicone bubbles apparently do not park themselves and stay parked. Maybe it will eventually float away again, for a while anyway.

[Hidden]

This is interesting, and concerning. I was not aware that this practice is so widespread for ocular injections.

practiceupdate.com/C/81788/...

I know that the syringes used on my eye at St Paul’s Eye Research Unit, Liverpool are not silicone lubricated.

[MikeG1944 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for the link Rennatk, very interesting. I had that happen at my first injection of Eylea (none since thankfully). The bubble only rarely appears, is very small and I can live with mine. A lot of consultants flick the syringe without thinking I guess.

[Hidden in reply to MikeG1944]

Mike An air bubble is not uncommon and usually clears within hours. The silicone is more of a worry. Often a vitrectomy is the only remedy to remove it.

Flicking the syringe is the time honoured way of clearing air for all normal forms of injection into a vein etc, I don’t suppose that dislodging the silicone coating was ever envisaged.

[MikeG1944 in reply to Hidden]

No I doubt anyone realised the problem. Let's hope all who use this procedure have been informed.

[Jihm in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for the link, Rennatk. I find the article very interesting. I told my doctor that I thought the type of syringe that was being used for Avastin in the US was a large contributing factor to silicone getting into the eye. He did not believe that. I will print the article.

[ironbrain]

I've had what I think is a silicone bubble since the middle of last year. It was originally like a minute air-bubble but seems to me to have become a grungy brown dot. MREH say they can't see one – whether it's a defensive position, there's a problem seeing the things with a slit exam or something else, I don't know.

[Jihm in reply to ironbrain]

Some eye doctors seem to have a hard time finding the bubble. Others can see it right away. I don't know why this is.