faq_category: Injections In Diabetic Retinopathy
Depending on your retinal condition, the amount of fluid, chronicity(since when the fluid is persisting), any systemic limitation your doctor would advise the injection which is appropriate to your eye.
Overall there are two classes of injection: anti-VEGFs(anti- vascular endothelial growth factors) and steroids.
No procedure would ever come free of side effects. One needs to assess the risks and benefits before opting for any treatment. Side effects of injections are usually related to the eye like infection(sometimes vision threatening), cataract, increase in the intraocular pressure and rarely retinal detachment. Absorption of the minute amounts of drug given into…
Injections prior to diabetic vitrectomies are given only in advanced cases wherein one’s retina has higher chances to bleed. Injections are given in these cases to reduce the risk of severe bleeding during surgery. However one must be cautious as the surgery has to be planned within 5 days from the date of injection. Sometimes…
Sometimes one’s retina does not respond to one type of drug. Ideally non response to injections has been defined as no reduction or minimal response to the drug only after 6 injections. However with the availability of newer drugs one might consider shifting you to a different drug early.
Though this varies, it usually ranges around 8-12 over a period of first two years.
Yes. Monthly injections are mandatory until the retinal reaches a stable point. Usually the next injection is to be planned prior to the weaning off effect of the previous injection.
The number of injections one would need varies from individual to individual. Several factors are to be taken into consideration like how our retina responds to the injection, maintaining stable blood sugars and other factors like hypertension, cholesterol and kidney disease.
No. The role of injections is to reduce the fluid level. In the initial treatment phase one would need frequent injections. However one should also focus on controlling the metabolic parameters like hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol levels and any kidney disease(creatinine levels). Once a stable point is reached in the eye, one can avoid injections. However…
Injections help to reduce the fluid and also cause regression of new(abnormal) blood vessels that develop on the surface of the retina.