Injections on left eye always more painful than right eye?

[Annsandra13]

Good morning friends,

Just wondered if anyone is finding that when having both eyes injected, the injection is far more painful in the left eye, yesterday was really the worst and I think it is more difficult for the nurse injector to give it from the left hand side, it was disappointing news yesterday as my left eye that was my better eye has deteriorated, so now both eyes will be injected every 6 weeks.

The clinic seems under great pressure and they are changing the process, going in for eye tests, scans and review one day then injections another day, of course this means even more dilation drops that I am finding extremely painful, that give me an instant head pain and feeling sick unable to open my eyes for a few minutes.

I know we have to tolerate all of this, just wondering if anyone has some helpful advice.

Wishing my friends in our community all the best

Love to all

Ann

[Emelinep]

Good morning Ann. I am the reverse I always find the first eye to be injected (right) to be more painful, for all procedures and afterwards. I hope my hospital doesn’t start following that process.

Best wishes to you too.

[Annsandra13 in reply to Emelinep]

Oh poor you, I was thinking it was the fact that it was because of the angle on the left side for the injector ! So it must be just that we are unlucky, how often do you have your injections? Also just wondered how long it takes to recover. I’ve got to say I feel still quite groggy after 2 days.

Hope your eyes are being kept stable.

Kindest regards

Ann x

[RosMacularSociety Partner]

Dear Annsandra13,

Have you fed this back to your macular clinic?

It may be worth contacting your ophthalmologist via their secretary to explain your experience, to see if they can identify the cause and put in measures in advance of your next appointment to ensure that it does not happen again.

I am copying a link to our factsheet, Pain after injections:

macularsociety.org/sites/de...

This may be useful as a discussion point.

Kind regards,

Macular Society Advice and Information Service

0300 3030 111

help@macular society.org

[Annsandra13 in reply to RosMacularSociety]

Thank you for the link, I think it would be a good idea to give feedback but I do worry that it may make the injector more nervous, it’s noot an easy job, however they have changed the clinic process that I don’t think it’s working,

Thanks again

Ann

[snow54flake]

Hi I am the same have both eyes injections the right is fine but problems with left and that is my worse eye. I think I stay very still for the right injection but when it comes to the left I tend to have a little jerk on penetration of the needle that eye has had a lot of injections so I wonder if it has more scar tissue x

[Annsandra13]

Thanks for kindly responding, you may be right but I do feel it’s not as easy for the injector to do the left if they are right handed.

It didn’t help I had so many drops in my eyes this week that made my eye more sensitive. Hope you are progressing well, it’s not an easy condition.

Kindest regards

Ann xx

[Hidden]

Sending you a hug Ann X sorry to hear you have to have both eyes done now.

My clinic changed to the 2 appt system a while back. For me it means less hanging about, each appt done in an hour rather than the 4+ it used to take.

Do you lubricate your eyes well between the two days and after?

Luckily I only have the left eye done but I find there's a pain difference top v bottom. And definitely aches more after if it was the top.

Wishing you all the best going forward x

[Annsandra13 in reply to Hidden]

Lovely to hear from you, I think I do perhaps need to hydrate more but I do constantly use evolve eye drops.

They say I have highly sensitive eyes, we have the same appointment but the time at each apt. Seems the same and having the eyedrops twice within a couple of days are not great for me as my eyes were still dialated when I went back for the second lot. I have sent a careful letter to the hospital as I think the clinic is not running very well, also asked about if they knew if injectors had problems giving injections on the left eye. I don’t want to upset anyone there but if they don’t know things won’t improve for others.

Hoping you are keeping well.

Kindest regards

Ann x

[McNaughton]

Hi Ann you didnt say where you are? I am in the UK York hospital. I have both eyes injected every four weeks for the last four years. Very little pain, just a little discomfort. But I did have until I got the iodine sorted...can tell you more on that , if you think that might be the problem.. could you ask for another technicion ... Polly

[Annsandra13 in reply to McNaughton]

Hi, it’s very kind of you to respond, I am in the Chester area and the injections are now given on the 2nd appointment, I sort of got used to the doctor but now a nurse (Sister) gives them, she is very nice. The last 2 injections have been very painful and I do go into a bit of shock.

I do feel who ever injects on the left eye it’s far more painful.

I don’t have iodine and have different eye drops, I am very sensitive to a lot of medications generally . Hope all is going well for you .

kindest regards

Ann x

[Catseyes235]

Just to add to this debate I have Eyelea in left eye, 3 years now, and Avastin in right since last October. Despite the Avastin not being as effective and leaving vision misty for a few hours I am given the cheaper option as I can read down the board well. Never mind the wavy stair or wall!!!

I do feel I have had more grittiness after in right eye especially and wonder if that is because they do this one first so it has to wait longer before being washed out?

When only one eye injected the other would compensate but now I feel it takes a good day to get back to normal as can hardly read much for 24 hours and have had to ask someone to read ingredients etc in supermarket ....I still reward myself after with a rare treat of a cream cake and maybe fish and chips!

So hello to all out there having double injections ...when I give blood I can have a sticker ... feel I want one for eye injections!!