Patient Instructions: Injections

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If you have received an injection, please follow these instructions:

Before Your Injection

If you are scheduled to have an Intra-vitreous Injection please follow the following instructions:

  1. Start using the antibiotic drops 3 days prior to your appointment
  2. Apply one drop 3 times per day, in the eye scheduled for the Injection.

EYE LID HYGIENE:

  1. Start lid hygiene 3 days prior to your injection.
  2. Gently scrub the base of the lashes for about 15 seconds per eye lid. Use a drop of baby shampoo with a cotton Q-tip at least 2 times per day.
  3. Tend to eye lid hygiene before applying antibiotics drops.
  4. Do not wear makeup on the day of injection.
  5. At least twice a day wet a washcloth with comfortably warm water, wring it out, and place it over the closed eye lid for 3 minutes. Rewet as it cools and repeat two or three times. This will soften and loosen scales and debris.
  6. On the day of your appointment, let the Ophthalmic Assistant know that you have already followed all of these instructions. It will help minimize your waiting period.

At the Retina Macula Institute we want to make your Intra-vitreous injection a comfortable experience.

After Your Injection

If you have just had an Intra-Vitreous Injection performed in our office, please do the following:

  1. Do not rub or touch the eye for the next 24 hours.
  2. Do no put water into eyes for the next 24 hours.
  3. Use Extra Strength Tylenol for any pain.
  4. Finish your bottle of antibiotics. Take one drop, 3 times a day for 7 days.
  5. Sleep with your head elevated on two pillows.

The following conditions are normal:

  1. Slightly blurry vision for the next 7- days.
  2. Bloody tears.
  3. A red spot or blotch on the white of the eye. This will go away by itself and should not interfere with your vision or cause pain.
  4. You may notice new “floaters” in your field of vision. They will usually appear as black “specks” or “bubbles.” These will typically disappear in a day or two.
  5. While the goal of treatment is to prevent vision loss, some patients experience visual improvement, within the first 2-3 weeks.
  6. Monitor an Amsler Grid at home daily.

If you experience any of the following symptoms please call us immediately:

  • Increasing pain (not alleviated by Tylenol)
  • Increased redness
  • Increased blurriness
  • The eye is tender to touch

IF YOU EXPERIENCE ANY OF THE ABOVE SYMPTOMS PLEASE CALL THE OFFICE (310) 944 -9393 AND YOUR DOCTOR WILL BE PAGED IMMEDIATELY.