Does anyone get eye injections for macular degeneration?

Posted by mikaylar @mikaylar, Sep 23 8:21am

I have been getting injections for 9 years and now I have glaucoma in the eye that gets the injections. Tomorrow I am get Shot #66. Does it ever get easier?

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I do! It does not get easier! I have been going for 10years, at least!

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I feel like a newbie; only just short of 50 shots so far.
My question is, how long between shots.

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I was at 3 mos, now I'm back to 1 month. The fluid comes back after I go too long without a shot. Now I have glaucoma in that eye and I know it came from these injections. Make sure you have a good retina doctor doing these shots. They are saving our vision.

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@mikaylar

I was at 3 mos, now I'm back to 1 month. The fluid comes back after I go too long without a shot. Now I have glaucoma in that eye and I know it came from these injections. Make sure you have a good retina doctor doing these shots. They are saving our vision.

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Are the shots extremely painful?

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No. Ask for extra numbing. It's after the numbing wears off and you are home. Eye is scratchy. Chalk the day off cause you cannot drive. Get your appointments in the morning so by evening you can see TV.

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@suzannemdevine

Are the shots extremely painful?

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I find that I don’t feel getting the shot itself at all. No pain there! They numb up that eye well. Vision in that eye is a little hazy immediately after, but I still get good stereoscopic vision with my other eye as main supporter so that I can drive myself the short way home. For me, discomfort starts to arise about an hour later (after the numbing wears off) and it’s too sore to keep it open. So, for a few hours I usually put a cotton ball over it to keep the eyelid shut. After that it just feels irritated and usually I can still watch tv or read in the evening. When I wake up the next morning the eye feels normal and have no discomfort. I schedule my appointment for last available appt of the day (2-3pm). That way I still have the first half of the day to be productive.

When I had my first 2 injections I got a bad eyeball headache lasting all evening. I mentioned this to the doc at third appt and he said that was due to the Betadine disinfectant that is used on the eye surface prior to injection. He immediately instructed the medical assistant to do double rinses on my eye after the injection. That has eliminated HA problem.

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Yes, you have to ask for them to flush your eye. You can also ask for salve that will give you relief, but then you really cannot see the rest of the day. I ask for extra numbing too. This is not a fun procedures but it keeps your vision.

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Thank you for the information. I see the specialist for the first time oct 14. I was told at my annual eye exam that my macula has changed and it is the beginning of macular degeneration. I am goi g for a second opinion.

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@suzannemdevine

Thank you for the information. I see the specialist for the first time oct 14. I was told at my annual eye exam that my macula has changed and it is the beginning of macular degeneration. I am goi g for a second opinion.

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Make sure you see a reputable retina specialist. Some ophthalmologists offices will do the injections, but you need a specialist.

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