Hi all. I am in the USA. I have previously read that, in Europe, Iodine is used to sterilize & prep the eye just before the shot, but some people have a reaction to the iodine & must switch to something else.
My Retina Specialists here in the USA use Betadine. For a long time it was fine with me, but for the last 2 shots, when the Betadine was put on my eye, the pain & burning was excruciating. The shot itself was no problem & no pain, but the Betadine was terrible & even with extra rinses by the nurse & by me when I got home , the sting & pain remained for several hours.
I am asking if there are other choices I can ask my Retina Specialists to use instead of Iodine or Betadine that others out there are happy with and that does not burn or sting much & does not cause a lot of pain. Thanks in advance to anyone who replies with names of products used.
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Retired130
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Hi Retired130. I have had a few problems with iodine mainly due to the fact that the person who carries out the injection is not particularly worried about the after effects and was not bothering to flush my eye afterwards. I asked him once if he would and he looked at me as if I had asked him to go get me the Crown jewels!! He has been instructed to flush it out every time now but he never uses much flusher. He also insists on using the iodine - the Opthalmologist asked him to change to Chlorhexidine before my last injection but he still used the iodine - fortunately that time I didn't have any ill after-effects. Do they use Chlorhexidine in the US? If so, maybe they could try that for you. Good luck. xx
Hi again Retired 130. Forgot to ask if you use moisturing eye drops. The Opthalmologist told me that I have dry eyes and that could make it more uncomfortable afterwards so I now use a moisturising gel every day and I think it helps. xx
Hi. Thanks for the tip on Chlorhexidine. Next appointment for a shot, I will ask if they have any. I use "Natural Tears" very liberally to flush out my eye for 2 days after the shot = until the stinging/pain/blur has gone. I also use it occasionally every week when my eyes bother me from pollen or pollution. My Retina Specialists recommended/insisted on using only Natural Tears type of drops & not the others because of the additional ingredients in many of the other types of drops & gel. I do not have dry eyes, so I just stick with the Natural Tears type of drops.
Hi Retired130. I only use Xaillin Gel with no preservatives and I find this is really helpful. Good luck with your next injection, mine is next Thursday - not looking forward to it but on saying that, I am glad it's there! xx
Hi Ret130. I have wet macular in both eyes and have frequent injections. Iodine is used to cleanse before the injections even though it stings and irritates my eyes. When I asked for something else I was told iodine was best and they would do two flushes!
My understanding is that Betadine is a type of iodine. If you google this you will see the generic name for Betadine is povidone iodine.
Hope you get the problem solved as getting the injections is bad enough without the added pain of iodine.
Thanks for your concern. I just may have to put up with the burning/stinging & pain from the Betadine if my Retina Specialist does not have Chlorhexidine that is used by some in Europe.
Yes! Iodine has caused me endless trouble! Despite my numerous complaints about the terrible post injection pain, AND flushing out copiously, AND having to take home a tiny vial of anaesthetic drops to help, but they run out and the practice is frowned upon, I was offered no help: it was only here on this forum I found out I need to get them to switch to chlorhexidine.
I was somewhat amused by your remark, " looked at me as if I'd asked for the crown jewels". Yes, springcross I got that look.
I maybe "borrowing the plough", but I wonder if I'll get an attempt to give me iodine drops again! I shall let you know what happens!
Hi Retired130 I too had excruciating pain which was so bad I fainted - never done that before in my life! Anyway they decided it must be the iodine & changed to chlorhexitine (watch out for a large release of histamine & take an anti hist if you can.), but one injector said she didn’t think I was allergic and could she try a drop of 5% strength iodine at the injection site & she would flush it well. I agreed & it was bliss no reaction whatsoever no pain or soreness. I’ve asked for this approach ever since some will some won’t & insist on using chlorhexitine,but whenever I have the 5% iodine I have the near pain & reaction free outcome. I am in the uk. Good luck
Thank you for your reply & the warning about histamines if I should get to try chlorhexitine. If I can't get chlorhexitine or it does not help, I will tell them to try the lower strength of iodine or betadine.
Hi retired 30, I am in the UK. York ..76, female dry,and wet mac in both eyes, central vision gone in the right. I have been having eyelea, now must be over 100 injections.. I have injections monthly. Iodine ...... my problem too. Nightmare time 7 hours of hell I nearly made the decision to stop the eye injections it was that bad....... However, I now have it sorted..... I have tryed two other alternatives, neither worked. So back to iodine, right this is the plan, 10% dilted iodine around the eye and the LID, the usual is 15% dilute on the lid? . Injections, no problem, then a dam good wash out, a full tube, and if any stinging occurs, I make them do it again. Then they put in viscotears single dose units 2.mg/g eye gel, which I take with me. (I have both eyes done at the same time) . I have this agreed by the specialist and it is on my notes. When I go in I make sure that is understood, no argument, (it happed once ... when the technician, refused to put the same diluted iodine around eyes and lids.and no amount of argument would change her mind) so I refused to continue, she walked out in a huff, and I got another technician) This is in no way a critism of York hospital, it is amazing , just a difficult technician. I had injections in Australia recently and never again. My journey home is an hour ish. When I get home I put more gel drops in, pour a gin and T, put the televion on, my feet up, after say an hour, I will be able to read my kindle. I am very careful, re any infection, and dont wear any make up the next day, Apparently, it takes 24 hours for the injection site to close. Hope you get it sorted, I know the pain, you are going through, I acquint it to a trauma. After having two babies, a broken hip and a hip replacement .... I would go through them all again, rather the pain of of iodine. None of us likes to be difficult but it is our sight, Hope this helps in some way. Good luck. Polly
Thank you for the detailed explanation. I will talk to my Retina Specialist about implementing what you are doing if Chlorhexidine is not available or does not help. I have been getting the injections in only my right eye at a 7 to 8 week interval, but this past scan on October 2, the specialist showed me the picture of my left eye & suggested wet MD is starting there & so it looks like I will be getting a shot in both eyes from now on. I see you get both eyes done at the same time. A previous commentator said she gets one eye done every 10 weeks and the other every 5 weeks. I guess I will have to see how my situation works out.
I am based in the UK and suffered significant discomfort when iodine was used on my first injection. Subsequently my Consultant has used Chlorohexadine since when I have suffered only minimal discomfort. I don’t know if this is available in the USA. I hope this helps.
It’s all about the rinsing after the injection. If the assistant is stingy with the wash, I ask them to do a second one. And then use the recommended eyedrops in the next hours. One single use ampule per eye.
Hi, I agree with everyone else' suggestions, just to add I take two paracetamol about an hour before inj and regularly thereafter for a day.
I can also recommend Hylotear soothing drops ( preservative and phosphate free), they are thicker than others.
I was told there's a five day infection risk so no swimming and I'm careful washing hair etc.
Thanks for the Hylotear recommendation. I will see if it is available here in the USA. My Retina Specialist said not to wash my hair or allow water from the shower head to hit my face for 3 full days after the injection.
I couldn't go more than a couple of days without washing my hair, though I must look weird contorting to keep water off my face. Reckon I could win a limbo contest lol . Good job we can keep laughing eh?!
in reply to
Eyesright: Swimming goggles might help in the shower.
Hi 130 - For several years I had extreme pain following injection for CVRO. MD and staff had little to offer...”yes, you can have some discomfort after the injection”. Finally, I took a selfie two days post injection, my eye lid was quite swollen. My MD said, “Oh! That’s a reaction to the betadine not the shot.” He gave me a rx for prednisone drops which helped one time only. When I asked about chlorhexidine I was told their practice does not use it.
Through helpful comments/suggestions on this site I now ask for additional flushes - like the entire bottle!! - and for a patch over that eye. The patch keeps my eye lid immobile. It has made a huge difference. I leave the patch on for about five hours, more or less, sit up in bed in a darkened room and listen to soothing music for those hours, try to relax and dose a bit. So far, no more long hours of stinging pain from the over production of salty tears.
For prep, I do make a point of using gel drops (available over the counter)for several days prior and a gel ointment the night before. I think...the condition of the eye is important before injection . I take two Tylenol, with a pinch of an anti-anxiety before appt. Following I take two nsaids (my choice has been Naproxen) and a Tylenol.
I did switch to a different MD but experienced the same severe pain. So returned to original MD as he is quite efficient with procedure. (I do have long waits before finally getting injection)
Recent cataract surgery was a walk in the park (which everyone wants to tell you!) compared to the injection. Being skeptical...I did ask for additional flushing and a patch. Very kind, attentive MD for the procedure agreed to my requests.
Thank you for your detailed explanation. I will incorporate your suggestions as a prep before the injection & care after the injection. Hopefully, as you suggested, the condition of the eye before the injection will make a difference.
Hi. I live in Canada - had my first few shots in one province and no problems or pain at all. Moved to B.C. - only 1 opthamologist 3 hours away. I had a sever reaction the first time I went to him - he said it was from the iodine. For 2 years it was just a "sometimes" reaction - then the last 3 times within an hour my eye would tear steady and wouldn't sta open so the other eye closed too. Sitting all day and evening with eyes closed - wiping tears and blowing nose steady was horrible. Si I stopped going 9 months ago - I had already lost some of my central vision with no change the last year of shots - and no change since I stopped getting them!! I read that if you stop getting them - it all depends on the person - some still lose vision slowly and other will lose it quickly - so I guess I've been lucky. I'm not recommending stopping to anyone - but I'm glad I was able to. I complained but her refused to stop using the iodine! He;s so busy I don't think he cares if he loses patients - has no "bedside manner" at all!
Besides being busy, he has no competition nearby, so his poor bedside manner & not caring about patients' discomforts does not affect his bottom line. I am so sorry you have to put up with this. Here in the states, there is usually 2 Retina Specialists within a reasonable driving distance (unless one lives in a big city), but they are totally jammed with patients. The one I go to is 11 miles away & sees patients from 8AM to 8PM & later 5 days a week. He is very caring & takes time with his patients, listens to the patient & tries to come up with solutions for the patient's concerns or problems, & shows pictures of the scans & points out what the scans are showing at every visit, so that is one reason his hours are so long = takes time with each patient. However, his staff is great at spacing appointments as the compete waiting room + scans & procedure has never taken more than 2 hours & is usually done in about 1 1/2 hours.
The only other Retina Specialist within 50 miles is about 25 miles from me & he runs his office like an assembly line. Very little concern for the patient - quick in & out - no time to talk - does not explain anything - tells patients to just put up with the pain - never goes over the scans - overbooks tremendously such that normal wait + procedures time is 6 to 8 hours. One time he hurt me so bad my body went into trauma shock & I lost most of my reading vision & it never returned & I now must use magnifying glasses or sheets to read anything & my husband must fill out any forms for anything & then he just points to where I must sign & guides my hand to stay on the line (which I can't see). I do not go to him anymore.
I just might have to put up with the betadine pain & burning, but I am going to try many of the suggestions given in this post by others. I hope things go ok for you as you have stopped he shots. My wet MD causes my vision to deteriorate quickly if I even extend the time between shots. Every 1 1/2 years we try, but so far no success. My vision improves to 20/40 with shots at 7 week to 8 week interval, but every time we tried to extend the interval to 9 weeks, the vision deteriorated to 20/70 & the fluid & bleed returned. If I stopped the shots I would quickly go blind.
My optician found a sot on my left eye so I went for scans every 6 months - the wait was long - he had 3 waiting rooms and sometimes they put chair up in the hallway - but he was covering another province as well so a huge area. I had a bleed and then started getting needles. There are 3 or 4 other specialists in the city - but none do needles - just him. My good 20/20 right eye went blurry when I had a bad bout of flu and coughed for 6 weeks - he had me come back and did laser on it - stuff had gathered behind the new lens they put in when i had cataract surgery. But ever since - it left me with double vision in that eye!!! He just told me to go get glasses. They were just giving me the same number I was already using so I kept using my drug storer readers. But went to a different optometrist - she did a very thorough exam - but not much improvement - the reading part works best on the computer!! When I look at a word there is another word kind of above and over a bit so small lighter print all blends together. I read a lot and use the comp. a lot so need that good eye!!! Pretty much housebound for back/leg problems so I need that eye to work properly!! Going back tomorrow to give them another try!
Chlorhexadine is not as good at preventing infection which can be very serious in the eye- so only switch if you really can't manage with iodine and flushes
I've been attending Moorfields in London (a World leading eye hospital) for three years, and they always use iodine. Often my eye is sore for hours afterwards, but last time they gave it a thorough post injection flush and the soreness only lasted an hour or so. So I think that, at least for me, soreness depends on the degree of post injection flushing.
I thought I was maybe reacting to iodine but it seems okay as long as all washed thoroughly after. Just in case, I always have a new and thus sterile bottle of moisturising drops which I use liberally whenever needed straight after treatment. If not cleaned thoroughly as happened last time the iodine forms crystals which if not washed out scratch and cause pain. I do take a couple of paracetamol too. Some times I haven’t used any drops at all as the treatment has been so good and thorough. Getting a little bit difficult as I now have both eyes treated with a different injection in each! Ah well onwards and upwards.
I'm in the US. I make sure to use a lot of eye drops afterwards. The problem is they numb your eye, so you don't realize you need them. I've had prob 20 shots.
Well, sometimes it does feel like one is being hit with a gun, depending on the skill of the person administering the injection. I had a "shot" from one doctor that was so bad I collapsed to the floor & it put my body into a trauma shock that lasted for almost a month and permanently removed my reading vision to a point where I must now use a magnifier plus the reading perscription part of my bifocals to even attempt to read something in normal size print - so yeah, I would say it was like getting shot. Never allowed that doctor to give me a shot again.
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