I had my 5th Eylea injection yesterday, for Diabetic Retinopathy. I always feel pain with the injections, sometimes stinging, but worse when it is a feeling of heavy pressure.
Yesterday I lost my vision in my left eye immediately after the injection. My Ophthalmologist explain it was a reaction to high pressure in the eye, and I was laid back for a couple of minutes. When nothing improved, he syringed out some of the aqueous humor, and my sight gradually returned. I was a bit faint and nauseous after but made a relatively quick recover. The experience was very frightening.
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AustralianNightOwl
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I'm sorry to hear you had a bad reaction to the Eylea injection AustralianNightOwl but glad to hear you're feeling OK now, it must have been quite a scary experience for you. Do they drop iodine in your eye before giving the injection, as that could be what causes the stinging and the feeling of pressure is probably where a cotton bud is pressed onto the eyeball when the needle is withrawn from your eye, this prevents any bleeding. I've had this often and and it is really uncomfortable. I hope your future injections will be much easier but don't be afraid to speak up afterwards and let your ophthalmologist know. All the best.
Thank you for your reply, springcross. Yes, I do have the iodine in my eye, then it is washed out before the injection, but the only stinging is the actual injection. I had not thought about the feeling of pressure being a cotton bud pressed onto the eyeball. The pressure is throughout the injection. Sometimes there is the stinging, other times the pressure, sometimes both. Thankfully, I have a very caring ophthalmologist. It is good to hear I am not alone in experiencing pain and discomfort. Thank you for your best wishes, and also to you for the future.
I asked if leaving a few minutes for the drops to work before injecting, but I believe they are instant. I wonder if adding more would help. Yes, they do test my pressure before the injections, 14 in that eye.
I have occasionally had this happen in the last 4 years, maybe 3 times. After the doctor removes the needle, I get a sudden blazing distorted sparkling light and then total blackness. For me it's gone in about 10 minutes, gradually the blackness lightens up and vision returns with a little more than usual blurriness remaining.
My doctor told me it is a normal reaction to increased pressure WITHIN the eyeball - the fluid of the injection raises the pressure slightly. Each of us is individual and each injection will also be different in this. It will return to normal pressure in a brief time - but again it depends on your individual situation. If you have pressure issues like glaucoma, etc...you may have it more often.
It is volume related, Here is a quote from a study of pressure after Lucentis eye injection: "It is known that an acute volume-related ocular hypertension (OHT) occurs transiently after IVT injections; however, within 30 to 60 minutes, the ocular pressure usually returns to baseline. In a study Sustained OHT after anti-VEGF injections - incidence ranges from 3 to 9%."
Thank you for sharing your experiences, Linda. You are reassuring, and good to know I am not alone in this experience of temporary loss of sight. Yes, you are right in saying each of us is individual and each injection also different. I do have Glaucoma for which I use Xalatan drops and periodically I have laser treatments of open the drainage. Your quote is very interesting and reassuring. Best wishes, Noella.
Do you have your eye pressure checked before each injection? Because my pressure goes up so much I have a drop of iopodine before and after each injection and that has really helped. I have narrow angles and am a glaucoma suspect hence the drops but it has really helped. Hope all is better.
Yes, my eye pressure is checked prior to injecting. It is tested frequently as I also have Glaucoma, and I use Xalatan eye drops. This was my fifth injection and first time this has happened. Thank you for your reply.
I take iop drops too, I winder if it would be good to take a drop before the injection could you ask next time if that would be a good idea. It’s def helped me
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