I found out today I have to have injections into my right eye for macular, left eye is dry macular. not sure what’s happening on that one, I’m absolutely petrified, I didn’t ask any questions as I was too scared, I just wanted to get out.
Can anyone tell me what will happen please. I had both cataracts done in the last three months and wasn’t so scared as I am thinking about this. What do they do and how long does it take, I’ve read on here sometimes it hurts and other times it doesn’t.
Thank you, from soap suds x
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marysuds
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Hi marysuds and welcome to the forum. I have wet AMD in my left eye - diagnosed in 2018 and have had about 58 injections now. I've put a link below to give you an idea of what to expect. As regards discomfort, it's true that sometimes it may hurt but not at other times. If it does hurt (which it shouldn't) it's usually very minor discomfort and for a split second or two, let your injection team know and they will decide how best to avoid any discomfort with future injections. Good luck and try not to worry too much. Let us know how it goes.
Thank you springcross, I’m sure once I’ve had the first one done I’ll feel better, it’s just the unknown. Do they cover up the eye their not doing and can you see the needle coming at you x
No, they don't cover up the eye they're not doing but you can't see that anyway as they tell you to look in a certain direction to enable them to place the needle in the correct position. Don't worry and if you're not happy with anything, let them know so that they can best accommodate you at the next injection. x😊
I remember feeling like you when I had my first one, waiting outside the treatment rooms. I looked at patients faces and nobody came out looking upset so it did reassure me a bit.
I do admit to feeling a bit of pain sometimes but not a lot of the time. If anything I would say it is only like the slight prick you feel when you have flu jabs etc, and not too bad. I remember telling myself that I am a grown woman who has given birth twice! I always let the nurses and injector know that I feel it a bit and ask for more anaesthetising drops. I have to say I find the female injectors better.
I had a steroid implant in my eye about a month ago. Knowing it was about the size of a grain of rice I thought I would feel it more so told everyone I was very nervous. The first nurse wrote it on my notes, then I told the nurses in the treatment room and when the doctor came in to inject I told her as well. She promised to be very gentle. I didn’t notice it at all until she said all done!
You will be fine and I always think a millisecond pain(if it should hurt) is worth it to keep my sight stable.
HELLO marysuds, i have the same as you, wet in the right eye and dry in the left, have been having injections in the right eye for a few years, very good procedure, which has helped my sight tremendously in that eye, you will feel pressure, but very rarely any pain, if you do it is very fleeting, just ask for plenty of numbing drops, they will understand you are nervous, but always bear in mind how much it will help with your vision. Very best wishes.
Please be reassured that the vast majority of patients describe the injection process as painless. The whole procedure usually takes between 5 and 7 minutes long. In most cases the injections are administered by trained and qualified ophthalmic nurses.
When the injection is given, the patient reclines on a couch. Firstly, local anaesthetic drops are applied to numb your eye. An antiseptic solution is used to clean the eye and eyelids. Your face will then be covered with a drape sheet which keeps the area sterile. The eye is then held open with a clip called a speculum. The patient looks to one side and the injection is given in the opposite corner of the eye.
The patient does not see the needle and the injection only takes a few seconds. The eye can feel a little tender or irritated for a couple of days afterwards.
If you are nervous about having the injections, we have a telephone treatment buddy service where treatment buddies (who have had the injections themselves) offer information and reassurance to people who are anxious about the treatment . If you would be interested in this service please call us on 0300 3030 111 when you know the date of your first injection.
Thank you everyone for your replies, what a very helpful site this is I’m so glad I found it. It’s reassured me a great deal, I’m still scared and I will be until I have the first one. I was told it’s one a month for four months but guess you have to keep having them after that?
The buddy thing sounds great thanks, I’ll see how I get on in the meantime. I am a buddy for someone as I have bladder cancer and it works fine with someone kinda holding your hand.
I’ll certainly come back and let you all know how I got on.
I’m from Lincolnshire is anyone else ( am I allowed to say that)
Hi Mary, I am in the same boat as you. I just found out 6 weeks ago that I have wet in my left eye, startings of dry in my right eye. I am 56 years old and my mom had the same thing when she was 48 years old. She went blind within 6 months because they didn't have anything to help back then but they do now. I know it can be scary but do NOT skip your appointments. I was also scared and my wife is a nurse so of course looked up the procedure online and then showed me. I was not to thrilled to do it but I also want to be able to see. Honestly...not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. They numb your eye pretty good and it was just a slight pinch feeling. Make sure you use plenty of eye drops after though for a good day at least, the dryness and itching can be bad from what they numb your eye with. Use preservative free drops or gel. I use Refresh Optive Gel Drops and they work fine. Had my second shot just this week and went fine but this time there was a little blood in my eye for a couple of days but it went away. Good luck with everything.
I've had 38 injections so far. I always say that it's nowhere near as painful as dental root canal treatment! In fact, I find it not so much painful as unpleasant, because of the thought of it. The dilating eye drops are far more painful. Jim
I’ve now got my 4 injections booked, first one 19th March so not too long to worry about it and worry I will !! but just want to thank you all again for all your help and lovely comments it’s helped loads as I had no idea what was involved Xx
it really is a weird thing to think about …but it shouldn’t really hurt. In fact I didn’t feel my first injection 6 years ago now. They should give lots of anaesthetic drops and the worst I’ve felt is very very slight pain (one out of hundreds) and pressure but I’ve always made it clear I’m a wimp! Somebody asked me about it recently and I leaned over and quickly poked her ..which she hardly felt ..to demonstrate.
The first year I had a nurse hold my hand and my friends used to know when an injection was due as I got a bit stressy days before! Now I’m okay and would say almost relaxed!! In short the thought of the injection is far worse than the reality. Good luck..
I’m pleased to say it’s nowhere as bad as I thought it would be, a bit of pressure for a second and it’s over with. Thank you all for putting my mind at rest and all the replies you gave me. Now to get on with the rest of them Xx
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