Hi everyone.
I have the eyelea injections in both eyes, it is often painful for 3-4 days after and i always have bloodshot eyes. My question is, when should i return to work after these injections? I work in an acute mental health unit where there is risk of aggression and violence ?
hi, I really don’t know the answer. I have Eylea injections but never have pain after them just blurriness from the drops. I usually return to work the following day. I don’t believe they should hurt like that and perhaps you should discuss it with your opthamologist. I have just changed to have an Ozurdex implant in my right eye and that too was pain free
Hi 90rach. When you say it's painful for 3-4 days afterwards and bloodshot, I assume you have an iodine wash prior to the injection and if so, that's probably what's causing all this discomfort. I used to get bad problems afterwards too and still do from time to time, depending on who does the injection and how much iodine they use beforehand. If that's what it is with you, I think you should have a word with the ophthalmologist at your next appointment prior to the next injection and also the injector and tell them what you're experiencing - hopefully they will try to make things more comfortable for you if you let them know. Good luck and let us know how you get on.
Hi, I have had well over 100 injections between my two eyes and always had Very similar problems that a lot of people experience. My injections were very uncomfortable for between one and three days until I told the injector about it and they said they would try chlorahexadine (not sure of spelling) well that was about 7 or 8 years ago and I can tell you it transformed my injection experience. Since then I can almost say I look forward to my monthly injections and when I walk out of the clinic my eyes feel as they did when I walked in no sourness what so ever. The doctor told me after a while that chlorahexadine wasn’t as good as iodine and asked if they could change me back on to iodine and gave me the choice but I said if I can stay as I am I would prefer it. They agreed and I’ve been on the chlorahexadine now for some years. I have had no problem's!
I am 76 years old.and was having Eylea injections . I hope this information helps someone.
Hi 3buoys119A. I asked for a change to Chlorhexidine some time ago but my consultant wouldn't agree to it as she feels that it doesn't have the stronger protective effect that the iodine does. That's all well and good for some and whilst I understand that and appreciate that she has my best interests at heart, it doesn't help those that the iodine causes such discomfort and misery for. I occasionally get an injector who just cleanses around the outside of the eye with the iodine, but puts one spot of iodine from a little vial onto the eyeball where the needle is injected and that's absolute fine with me - I leave feeling the same as you with no soreness whatsoever, but the injector I have mostly drops the iodine into my eye from the cleansing sponge and that, for some reason, is what gives me the awful burning sensation and no matter what I say, he still does it!
Hello 90rach, do discuss with your opthamologist, i have injections in one eye, and there is never pain, a bit of discomfort after, but then the next day all is well. It could be that you need more numbing drops before the injections, but do discuss with them. Best wishes.
l agree with spring watch. I had awful swelling pain and my eyes were blood shot. It was the iodine so now they have a severe reaction to iodine on my notes
I have anti biotic drops for a week after but since they agreed to only using one drop of iodine and thoroughly watching them l have had no issues Good luck
This sounds like sensitivity to iodine as I have suffered this too. My last injection I only had one drop of iodine at the injection site and it was so much better. Please try this and see how you get on.As regards work I take 48 hours off after the injection. I had a very hard time getting this time off work last year. I work for the nhs and had support from my union rep. I had to go through occupational health and finally got disability leave which is a big help. Please contact me if you need any further information. The macular society were also a great help to me.
Take care and all the best for your next treatment.
agree with all above comments. Probably allergic to iodine. I had horrendous aftereffects and was tested. It was like burning barbed wire for Bout 48 hours. Now have an alternative to iodine with no side effects but it has to be done under very sterile conditions. Good luck. Stick to your guns. You are not the only one to have experienced this.
I have a bit of pain and sometimes bloodshot eyes but the pain is usually gone after 24 hours, blood dissipates within a few days. My doctor recommends 3 days of altered behavior to prevent eye infections, something that would be a game changer. I have to forego gardening, any type of strenuous exercise, washing my hair, swimming, having my dog near my face and avoiding dusty/dirty environments. Since I'm retired, not sure about returning to work.
Hello had injections for 2 years approx 24. Only had maybe 2 sore ones. Does not seem normal to have so much pain.
Hi 90rach,
You should not experience anything that you can describe as pain during or after the injection. The maximum that you should experience is a level of discomfort.
The following link may be of assistance:
macularsociety.org/about/me...
Please contact us direct if you would like our Pain after injections factsheet.
I have copied a link to the research paper on painful injections that our research department have previously cited as a potentially useful document in these situations:
bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/...
It is important to avoid getting water and dust into your eyes for several days after the injections.
I would ask your ophthalmologist (who you can contact via their secretary) about their perspective on your post injection work concerns.
Kind regards,
Macular Society Helpline
0300 3030 111
help@macularsociety.org
I have very dry eyes and my eyes were very sore after the first injection and became bloodshot when I followed the recommendation to apply drops four times a day. I now let the nurses know I have this problem before the injection and they thoroughly wash my eye out after the injection and I use the drops every hour for the first day to flush out any remaining Iodine. Also, they were unable to get the gel drops so we’re using more liquid hypromellose drops for a while. These are much better for me as they are better at flushing any residues out. Talk to whoever is doing your injections and they will be able to suggest alternatives.
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