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Original poster

I was NOT a brave girl at the hospital.

162 replies

Timeforatincture · 10/06/2025 19:38

Had to have an injection into my eye.

Doesn't hurt but it's very pushy and I feel very got at.
I know heaps of MNers have had a lot worse but I'm a wimp.

Anyone else had this?

OP posts:
ANiceBigCupOfTea · 10/06/2025 20:25

I have to do my best not to break down when I need to have blood taken so zero judgement here at all. Needles in any form are gross but into the eye has to be up there with the worst.

InfoSecInTheCity · 10/06/2025 20:26

I had to have keyhole surgery on my eye a few years ago while awake, a couple of hours of them doing ‘stuff’ through 3 little holes in my eyeball while we chatted. I was terrified in the run up but luckily they gave me a very very wonderful sedation which left me completely coherent and able to have full on discussions, but utterly blissfully calm about everything. I didn’t actually ask what the medicine was and I think that was a good move because if I knew what it was I’d want it all the time. So calm, so serene.

Alwaystired2023 · 10/06/2025 20:26

You are very brave ! I have a general no injections in my eye rule so I applaud your bravery

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BillStickersWillBeProsocuted · 10/06/2025 20:27

I've never had a problem with needles, give blood, got tattoos - I remember getting a vaccine in school and the nurse saying "Oh, you're a watcher" didn't realise that was weird til then....the idea of an injection in the eye can absolutely get all the way to fuck and then keep going!

daisyonadolphin · 10/06/2025 20:28

Sidebeforeself · 10/06/2025 20:11

You need a lollipop at least.

And a sticker and a stamp on your hand !

Jollyjollyjollygoodie · 10/06/2025 20:28

I have branch retinal vein occlusions. They keep mentioning an injection into my eye but they are saying it’s not required at present.

If I do have to have one, I don’t know if I’ll cope. I think you are very brave indeed @Timeforatincture .

Naepalz · 10/06/2025 20:29

Yes! I had to have 13 of them after a branch retinal vein occlusion. Initially they told me it might be 3 or 4. I never found it got any better as I have a thing about people near my eyes but if I hadn't had the injections I'd have most probably lost the sight in that eye for good. I got Valium from my GP as it was the only thing that made me able to turn up at the eye hospital and sit through the proceedure. Highly recommend it if you need more of them.
Can I ask what you are being treated for? Happy to offer advice or help if similar to my problem.

Ninkynonkpinkyponks · 10/06/2025 20:31

I’ve had electrical pulses in the eye nerves and also an injection in the eye. The doctor and nurse had to hold me down for the injection as I couldn’t let them do it to me as a reflex!!!

Naepalz · 10/06/2025 20:33

Orangemintcream · 10/06/2025 19:43

I would quote possibly have had to be forcibly taken to get that done. Then sedated.

You did amazing to actually have it done.

I had to have Valium to get 13 of them done. Never been so scared of anything in my life 😬

Sadmummy3 · 10/06/2025 20:33

I couldn't do it so you're braver than me. My dad has had it a couple of times and I'm desperately hoping I don't inherit what he has. It just sounds painful. My dad tells me it doesn't hurt. I say I'll never bother to find out.

Naepalz · 10/06/2025 20:35

CaptainMyCaptain · 10/06/2025 19:52

They put local anaesthetic drops in so you don't feel a thing.

Show quote history

I didn't find that helped with the fear though...

InSpainTheRain · 10/06/2025 20:36

Well done for getting it done OP! I'd rather have 10 injections in my bum and 1 in my eye!

Naepalz · 10/06/2025 20:37

PeckyGoose · 10/06/2025 19:53

Congratulations! You can now confidently use the phrase "I'd rather stick pins in my eyes" next time you're presented with an undesirable offer.

It sounds hideous BTW! How do you do it without instinctively just closing your eye?

They clamp your eye open so you can't shut it 😬

RafaistheKingofClay · 10/06/2025 20:37

daisyonadolphin · 10/06/2025 20:28

And a sticker and a stamp on your hand !

Show quote history

Just misread that as stamp on your head. You can’t stamp on her head after she’s had an eye injection. Even though one of those things is much preferable than the other.

FamingolosForDays · 10/06/2025 20:38

I've had multiple operations and experienced ungodly levels of pain, vomit and blood but there is absolutely no fucking way I would be able to sit through someone injecting MY FUCKING EYE.
I had an injection in my arse a few months ago and that was horrible!
You, my love, are indeed a very very brave woman

Figcherry · 10/06/2025 20:39

Goodness op. I’ve just finished a CJ Sansom novel and I think he could have put your eye injection as part of the medieval torture.
I’m squinting in horror here.
My uncle had to have an eye removed as he had a benign tumour pressing onto it and they didn’t want it to affect his other eye if it grew.
He was a parachutist in the Palestinian/Israeli conflict in 1948, a really brave man but he was terrified of having eye surgery.

Original poster
Timeforatincture · 10/06/2025 20:39

Naepalz · 10/06/2025 20:29

Yes! I had to have 13 of them after a branch retinal vein occlusion. Initially they told me it might be 3 or 4. I never found it got any better as I have a thing about people near my eyes but if I hadn't had the injections I'd have most probably lost the sight in that eye for good. I got Valium from my GP as it was the only thing that made me able to turn up at the eye hospital and sit through the proceedure. Highly recommend it if you need more of them.
Can I ask what you are being treated for? Happy to offer advice or help if similar to my problem.

Can I ask what you are being treated for? Happy to offer advice or help if similar to my problem

It's called pseuduxanthoma elasticum. Causes (amongst other things) weak lines (angioid streaks) on the retina that let the crappy blood vessels in. One eye completely buggered so will have to tolerate this nastiness to preserve the other one. Especially as I'm a bookworm.

OP posts:
vipersnest1 · 10/06/2025 20:40

I’m a teacher and give out stickers (secondary and the students still love them) and five stickers mean a positive behaviour point and a special hole punch (26 different shapes available) on the front cover of their book.
You can have as many as you like, @Timeforatincture. 😊
I’ve had steroid injections in the index finger and thumb of my dominant hand today (which are killing me still) and I’m having a biopsy of my tongue taken next week, but I still wouldn’t choose what you have gone through instead.
Big ‘hats off’ to you.

QuickPeachPoet · 10/06/2025 20:40

I don't think you are a wimp. I would have been terrified.
I know a lady at my church who is one of the biggest battle-axes I know and she had to have a 'bubble' inserted behind her cornea. Without it she would have lost the sight in that eye. With it she may have also. She is so tough normally, but she was terrified.

CaptainMyCaptain · 10/06/2025 20:46

Naepalz · 10/06/2025 20:35

I didn't find that helped with the fear though...

Show quote history

The fear of going blind was stronger when it came down to it.

JuneShellChangeHerTune · 10/06/2025 20:46

What’s this with having a nurse’s hand to hold? Is it a relatively recent thing? I had this when I had some fibroids removed from my uterus, and for cataract surgery, and it was really comforting.

I’ve had a retinal tear removed, and cataract surgery, and don’t remember having an injection in my eye for either. Well done, OP! Congratulations! 💐

HazelBite · 10/06/2025 20:47

I was terrified about having my lens removed etc because of a cataract, it really was not any way as bad as I imagined, and absolutely no pain. The anesthetic was very effective.

ButteredRadish · 10/06/2025 20:48

@nocoolnamesleftFuch’s Dystrophy by any chance?

@TimeforatinctureMy mum had to have corneal transplants sewn onto her eye whilst awake. Oh that’s after they’ve peeled her existing cornea off…. 🫣

Darkdiamond · 10/06/2025 20:49

How can you say you weren't brave and yet you did it!!??? I had to have an eye exam with the drops to dilate the pupils and I was extremely anxious and even made some noises that sounded like a dog about to bite someone. If I needed an injection in my eye I honestly wouldn't get it done. I just wouldn't do it! I'd go home!

Naepalz · 10/06/2025 20:49

Jollyjollyjollygoodie · 10/06/2025 20:28

I have branch retinal vein occlusions. They keep mentioning an injection into my eye but they are saying it’s not required at present.

If I do have to have one, I don’t know if I’ll cope. I think you are very brave indeed @Timeforatincture .

I had a BRVO too and had 13 injections. I didn't think I could go through with them but it was that or probably never regain proper sight in my eye. I threw up 4 times on the morning before the first one. Never been so scared in my life. For the next 12 injections I had Valium from the GP, helped a lot but I was still shit scared. The nurses were really lovely and one time I was shaking and the nurse said to me "you know you could get Valium to help" I had to tell her this was me ON Valium 😂.
So glad I went ahead with them though the BRVO left me unable to read anything on the sight test chart and afterwards I could read to the line above my good eye, so delighted with the results.