intravitreal injection

intravitreal injection

An intravitreal injection is a simple procedure in which medicine is injected into the clear, gel-like center of the eye called the vitreous. It is commonly used to deliver drugs directly to the retina and nearby tissues that are hard to reach with pills or eye drops. The procedure is usually done in an outpatient setting with local numbing drops and takes only a few minutes. Because the medicine goes straight to the back of the eye, it can act faster and with lower doses than systemic treatments. Intravitreal injections are routine for conditions like age-related macular degeneration, diabetic eye disease, and retinal vein occlusions. They are also used in research to deliver new therapies, including gene treatments, directly where they are needed. Risks are low but real and include infection inside the eye, bleeding, increased eye pressure, or, rarely, retinal detachment. Patients often need repeated injections on a schedule, and doctors monitor eye pressure and vision over time. Overall, intravitreal injection is a powerful tool because it allows precise, targeted treatment of serious eye diseases with relatively quick recovery.