Retinal Injection Treatment in Melbourne | Over 10 Years’ Experience
Intravitreal injections in Melbourne for retinal conditions at Mornington Peninsula Eye Clinic
Advanced Cataract Surgery in Melbourne | 10+ Years Experience
Cataract surgery in Melbourne — care at Mornington Peninsula Eye Clinic
Understanding how eye injections work and which retinal conditions they are used to manage
An intravitreal injection, also called an eye injection or IVI, delivers medication into the vitreous cavity. This is the clear gel filling the space between the lens and the retina. Placing the medication inside the eye allows it to reach the retina directly. It is used to manage several eye diseases that affect central vision.
The medication used depends on the condition being treated and is most commonly an anti-VEGF agent. It is designed to reduce leakage from abnormal blood vessels and reduce swelling in the retina. Eye injections are ongoing management rather than a cure, so treatment continues over time. The aim is to slow the disease and protect remaining vision.
Injections are one of several approaches to retinal disease. Depending on the condition, treatment may involve injections of medicine into the eye, laser treatment or eye surgery, and your ophthalmologist can discuss which options may suit you. Conditions that commonly require treatment with injections include:
- Wet macular degeneration, an advanced form of age-related macular degeneration
- Diabetic macular oedema and diabetic retinopathy, both part of managing diabetic eye conditions
- Retinal vein occlusion, where a blocked retinal vein causes fluid to collect in the retina
- Macular oedema, or swelling of the central retina, arising from these conditions
- Other retinal conditions where an ophthalmologist decides medication should reach the retina directly
Patients are often referred after noticing symptoms such as blurred or distorted vision, dark patches, or vision loss. Some retinal conditions cause no symptoms in the early stages, which is why regular review matters for anyone at risk. An assessment for retinal conditions determines whether injections are appropriate and which medication suits the condition.
Like all procedures that enter the eye, injections carry risk. The risks documented for this procedure include increased pressure, inflammation, infection and bleeding inside the eye, along with a retinal tear or a detachment. Serious complications are uncommon but can occur. Your ophthalmologist will explain the risks that apply to you before treatment begins, so you can make an informed decision.
Eye injection treatment and monitoring at Mornington Peninsula Eye Clinic
Mornington Peninsula Eye Clinic provides general and subspecialty ophthalmology within one practice, so patients with routine and complex retinal presentations are managed by the same team. Our surgeons have over 10 years’ experience and are associated with The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, across the cataract, retinal and glaucoma units. Injections are given in a clinical treatment setting at our Mornington clinic. This means assessment and treatment can be arranged within the one practice.
Treatment is guided by imaging. An OCT scan, or optical coherence tomography, produces a detailed cross-section of the retina and shows fluid that cannot be seen on examination alone. Your ophthalmologist will assess the eye prior to each injection and compare current imaging against earlier visits. Injections often begin monthly. Where the retina remains stable, the gap between appointments may be extended by a few weeks at a time. If fluid returns, the interval is shortened again. Intervals are set by what the imaging and examination show rather than by a fixed schedule.
Because treatment continues over months or years, we take the time to explain what each stage involves and what the schedule is likely to look like. The practice accepts cash and credit cards, and can process private health insurance claims on the spot for all funds. Our team can go through the payment options that apply to your treatment before your first appointment. Questions about what to expect are welcome at any point during treatment, not only at the first visit.
Your intravitreal injection appointment
Preparing for treatment
Before treatment, your ophthalmologist will explain why injections are being recommended, what the procedure involves and what the risks are, and you will be asked to give consent. Tell the clinic about the medications you take, including blood thinners, and about any allergy to antiseptic. Mention any eye infection you have had recently. The clinic will confirm anything else you need to do before the appointment.
On the day
Anaesthetic drops are used to numb the surface of the eye, and an antiseptic solution is applied to the eye and eyelid to reduce the risk of infection. A small speculum holds the eyelids open. You will be asked to look in one direction while the medication is injected through the white of the eye using a very fine needle. Your vision may be checked afterwards before you leave.
Recovery and follow-up
The eye can feel gritty or sore for a couple of days afterwards. Many patients notice redness on the white of the eye where the needle entered. This is a subconjunctival haemorrhage, a small bruise that usually clears within a week or two. Some people see small floaters in their vision. Your ophthalmologist will give you aftercare instructions and arrange your follow-up appointment.
If a retinal condition has been diagnosed, or your optometrist has referred you for assessment, our ophthalmologists can review your eyes and explain whether injections are appropriate.
Call the clinic to arrange an appointment, or contact our team if you have questions about what the treatment involves and how it is scheduled.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I feel pain during an intravitreal injection?
Will I feel pain during an intravitreal injection?
The surface of the eye is numbed before treatment begins. Most patients describe brief pressure rather than sharp pain, though discomfort varies from person to person. Some people find the antiseptic solution stings more than the injection itself. Tell your ophthalmologist if you find the sensation difficult so it can be discussed before your next appointment.
What warning signs should prompt me to contact the clinic?
What warning signs should prompt me to contact the clinic?
Contact the clinic without delay if you develop severe pain, increasing redness in the days after treatment, worsening vision, or a significant loss of vision. Growing sensitivity to light or a sudden increase in floaters also needs review. Infection inside the eye is rare.
Can I drive myself home after receiving an eye injection?
Can I drive myself home after receiving an eye injection?
We recommend arranging a lift. Vision in the treated eye is often blurred for a period after treatment, and your pupil may still be dilated from the examination. Depth perception can be affected while one eye is not seeing clearly. Your ophthalmologist can advise when it is reasonable for you to drive again.
Will I need injections in both eyes?
Will I need injections in both eyes?
Only eyes with active disease are treated. Some conditions affect one eye, while diabetic eye disease and macular degeneration can involve both. Where both eyes need treatment, your ophthalmologist will advise whether they can be treated at the same visit or on separate days. Your ophthalmologist will monitor both eyes even when only one is being treated.
How do eye injections differ from surgical procedures for the retina?
How do eye injections differ from surgical procedures for the retina?
Injections are given in a treatment room and involve no incision and no stitches. Surgical procedures such as vitrectomy are carried out in an operating theatre and involve a longer recovery. Retinal care options may include both at different points, since injections manage fluid and swelling while surgery addresses structural problems such as a detached retina.
Can I have eye injections if I have had cataract surgery?
Can I have eye injections if I have had cataract surgery?
Previous cataract surgery does not rule out injection treatment. Tell your ophthalmologist about any eye surgery you have had so it can be taken into account when your care is planned. Where cataract surgery is also being considered, your doctor will advise on the order of treatment and how the two should be sequenced.
What happens if I delay or stop treatment?
What happens if I delay or stop treatment?
Fluid and abnormal blood vessels can become active again when injections stop, and vision lost through untreated disease may not return. Treatment length differs between patients. Do not stop treatment or skip appointments without discussing it with your ophthalmologist first, and tell the clinic if you need to postpone so the gap can be planned.
Am I suitable for intravitreal eye injections?
Am I suitable for intravitreal eye injections?
Suitability depends on the retinal condition present, how active it is, and your general health. A diagnostic assessment including imaging is needed before this can be answered. Injections are not appropriate for every retinal condition or every stage of disease. Your ophthalmologist will discuss whether they are an option for you and what the alternatives are.
Can eye injections restore vision that has already been lost?
Can eye injections restore vision that has already been lost?
The usual aim is to slow the disease and hold vision steady rather than to recover sight that has gone. Some people do see some improvement and others do not. Injections are less likely to help where damage to the macula is long-standing. Your ophthalmologist will explain what is realistic in your case.
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