I had my first injection a few weeks ago (due another one tomorrow). Probably like a lot of people being told that I would need eye injections was a big shock and something that horrified me but after reading a lot of peoples experiences I came to the conclusion (maybe incorrectly) that the injections were nothing to worry about and all I was likely to feel was a slight bit of pressure. I am not usually a squeamish person either. However my first experience was different to that. I felt a sharp prick when the needle went in. This has made me apprehensive about having more injections.
Can anyone with experience provide any reassurance or should I expect a repeat of my first experience ?
Thanks Mark (ps any replies today would be appreciated as I'm due my 2nd jab tomorrow)
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MarkoVince
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It is important that you discuss your pain issue with the clinic staff before your next injection so that they can try and guard against it happening again. Every individual injection can be slightly different but should generally be painless. They may decide to administer more anaesthetic drops prior to your injection.
hi, I would ask for more anaesthetising drops. I used to have injections in both eyes and my right eye always felt the prick where the right didn’t, I was told often one eye is more sensitive than the other. So I always let them know and ask for more drops. I had decided that it was only the same as an injection in your arm and it only lasts for a very short time and if it keeps my sight stable so be it. After all. Have given birth twice!!!
Hope it gets better for you, but definitely ask for more drops
Thanks for taking the time to come back to me, that helps me a lot, I will ask for more drops, without the prick I have no worries about keeping up the jabs. Thanks again
Hi MarkoVince. I'm sorry to hear your first injection has made you apprehensive about having more injections. I agree with Carol and Koalajane that you should discuss this with your clinic staff when you next attend and ask for more anaesthetic drops prior to injection. Each injection can be different and it can depend on who the injector is too. I've had over 50 injections now and my last one was one of those times that I felt a slight prick of the needle as it went in, but it was a split second and then was gone, so all was well. Good luck for next time and let us know how it goes.
Hello MarkoVince, sorry to hear about your first injection, please do discuss with your clinic, it is probable that you need more drops before the injection. I have had many injections now, and only experience a pressure on the eye, no pain, I am sure they will do all they can to help. Best wishes to you.
Sorry to hear you are experiencing issues with the injections. I am in Cyprus and they only use one type of anesthetic drops, which don’t work on me, therefore injections always hurt.
We have now got to the stage where I have to have a calming tablet given to me before having the injection.
Hopefully they can give your more or better anesthetic drops at your next injection appointment. Best wishes.
I have to agree it is definitely to do with the injector. A few weeks ago I had a steroid implant injected into my eye. Knowing it would need to be a larger needle to get the implant in (the size of a grain of rice) I was very nervous so made sure they all knew I was to get extra drops. The doctor was fantastic. I didn’t feel anything just heard the click to know it had gone in. She was quick, knew exactly what she was doing and how much pressure(or lack of) to give. She was quicker than my usual Eylea injections.
I have to say I do prefer females to do it rather than males, I think they are gentler.
I know that some people do experience only a feeling of pressure and this is presented as the general experience. This is not the case. Studies show that 6% of patients suffer varying degrees Of pain. Mine was awful. Much better now as I get an aneAsthetic injection first. Still not a wonderful experience but bearable. Some find improvement with extra numbing drops. Also skill of injector makes a difference. Do speak up. Suffering in silence just makes anxiety worse. Sincere wishes for a better experience.
sorry. Posted my reply to RP1044 instead of you so hope you get it.
Make sure you tell them you are anxious, and need lots of anaesthetic before the procedure and time for it to work. In our clinic they are usually very good, offering to hold my hand, too! As it was your first one, that would have made a difference too-as you were nervous. Many people are horrified at the prospect, but the alternative is not to have the shot, with all it's own issues. Try some deep breathing, and meditation before you attend the next one. You'll soon be an old hand at it like the rest of us! What amazing drugs we are lucky to be able to have! If you mention it to the doc at the consultation before the jab, and ask for your concerns to be put on your form, the staff will see that n the form and be prepared to help. Good luck.
had injections since 2012 and on a few occasions I have felt pain but I now tell the person getting me ready, I need lots of numbing drops and that works. They get in a hurry, office always full, and just remind them you felt pain before and need more numbing drop. You might mention to your RS too. Good luck. We are blessed to be able to save our vision with the injections.
Do tell the injector about your experience and they should give you more anaesthetic. Maybe make out it was worse than it was ..it won’t hurt to exaggerate!! Out of 6 years of injections I’ve only experienced one, maybe two that properly hurt. I used to ask a nurse to hold my hand for the first year but I’m a big brave 73 year old now. I do find relaxing deep breathing helps but I understand as it’s not really something that’s easy to feel relaxed about. Oh best to bed as I’ve an injection tomorrow morning!,
As many have commented - each injection will be different, and each doctor/nurse will be different. I am lucky that the person giving it is the same retina specialist doctor[USA] each time since it began in 2018 - so no surprises in his technique. I don't so much feel "pain" as I do a "pop" as the needle pierces the eye surface - I always have a startle reflex when it does. I deep breathe - slowly breathe in to the count of 3, breathe out to the count of 4. AS a nurse, I would often advise children or nervous folks to wiggle their toes during an injection, IV start, lab draw....it works! by distracting your mind! Some injections I have experienced sudden explosions of lights - like a fireworks in my eye! Doctor says that is due to pressure and volume and the speed of the injection - if it's faster than normal or a tiny variation in volume that happens - it is gone in about 3-4 minutes. After the injection, I feel a dull ache in the eyeball and sometimes the bones of the eye socket. Twice, a couple days later, I have had a spontaneous bleed of a small blood vessel on the surface of the eye - looks awful, but is not serious. I guess none of us *like* eye injections 😆 but a small price to pay for saving the sight I have. You got this!
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