I was NOT a brave girl at the hospital.

[Timeforatincture]

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?

I had to have an emergency section last week and I'd prefer to that weekly that have an injection into my eye. No way could I do it . So to me you are very brave op

Ah okay - glad it worked out in the end! Personally, I'm not happy with the concept that I could be in distress but it's okay that I may not recall it afterwards - but I accept I am in the minority.

Solidarity OP, I had a chorodial neovasuclar membrane and had to have the injections - I was initially told a course of three at monthly intervals but ended up having over 30 in total over almost three years. They were mostly pretty painless aside from the first one - which was the only one done by a consultant as opposed to a specialist injection nurse - where my cornea was scratched, but psychologically I always found them challenging. I always held the assisting nurse's hand when offered (and they always offered).

@blackberryhill . You are the first person I've come across with the same condition I have. I was told 3 months of monthly injections too. I had my 7th this week. I don't like them at all but at least they are quick. I am amazed how differently I feel afterwards, sometimes my eye is hugely weepy and irritated, like something scratchy in the eye but one is warned about rubbing and the dire conseqences of infection. Sometimes I am absolutely fine within a few hours.
Did your condition resolve? Do you think it was the injections? Is your sight still affected? I hope you don't mind me asking, I am really hoping I can see an actual doctor to ask but I only encounter the nurses at the clinic who say to talk to a doc. My consultant apparently looks at my case but I would love to meet her.
Sorry to hijack OP. I hope your injection caused no after effects and is helping. Yes, you were brave.

Sorry you're going through this, it's pretty crap! My first injection massively improved my vision - I went from only being able to read the top line on the sight chart with my affected eye to being able to read all bar the bottom two by my next appointment. After a few months I could do the full chart, although scarring has left me with a tiny bit of distortion in the affected eye, but it doesn't cause me any problems day to day.

I had a tiny but persistent patch of fluid which is why I ended up having so many injections - the explanation I received was that it needed to be completely stopped before they would stop treatment. My city has a big specialist eye hospital so I was under consultant care from the outset and saw a doctor at every appointment until COVID hit (which meant they took ages but at least I was getting to speak to someone). Finally finished injections in 2021 but was monitored until earlier this year when I was finally discharged.

I hope things improve for you soon!

Thank you so much for answering, that gives me hope. I was beginning to think they weren't telling me that I would be on these injections for life. I too have a small amount of fluid present but better than it was and with improved vision. If it can be resolved then this will be worth it. Thank you again

I was interested in your post as I haven’t seen any other threads about this. How are you now? Is there any improvement or was the injection to prevent your condition worsening?

I had a branch retinal vein occlusion 4 years ago and subsequently developed macula oedema.

I’ve been having injections for the past 18 months having had laser treatment and have had two implants during that time, slow release steroid which last 3 months. Initially they did reduce the macula oedema but this year the problem has worsened and I now have a cataract on that eye, which can be caused by the treatment so waiting for cataract surgery.

I’ve probably had 10 injections now and I can say it does get easier and I don’t feel as worried about them now and seem to recover quite quickly.

I have been treated very kindly by the hospital staff who apparently are doing them day in and day out from Monday to Friday so they are very experienced! I just find it really frustrating following the precautions for up to 5 days after as it does impact on my activities but it is what it is!

Feel free to pm me!
Good luck to everyone who is having this treatment and thank goodness we have a health service that provides this treatment! My understanding is the injections are very expensive so they understandably will only treat this way if absolutely necessary. I also have regular OCT scans to review the oedema at the eye unit.

@Trotula I've had one check up since and another one in a couple of weeks. The injection hasn't improved my vision but has sealed off a couple of pointless little blood vessels away from the centre. It's a void behind the retina, not fluid so there may not be much that can be done apart from hope for the best.

I hope it goes well for you and thank you for posting your op. Will keep watching the thread and see how everyone is doing, there’s obviously a few of us!

I have just been diagnosed this week with a BVRO and it has affected the vision in my right eye. The issue is only at the periphery but I am finding the blurring very disorientating. We are watching and waiting at the moment and desperately hoping things improve.

Oh gawd u poor thing. I had an injection through my ear drum a few years ago. It was not painful. It was pushy like you describe. I did not like it!!!!

Hope you are ok.

It’s so hard isn’t it?
If they haven’t advised already, it’s worth checking your blood pressure and cholesterol levels as my understanding is it’s a cardiovascular issue as the veins to the eye are quite narrow and therefore more at risk of blockage by a clot. Diabetes and smoking can also lead to BRVO.
My levels had previously been high so I was already on BP meds and statins but they have gradually increased over the years.
I see the optician regularly for vision tests and OCT scans (every six months or so) as well as regular opthamology treatment at the hospital.
I found the Moorfields Hospital guides really useful and easy to understand.
Wishing you well for the future.
moorfields.nhs.uk