Why inject the drug into the eye?
Endophthalmitis is a purulent inflammation of the inner membranes of the eye, which can develop after surgery, penetrating injury, or as a complication of a general infection. The blood-ophthalmic barrier does not allow systemic antibiotics into the eye in sufficient concentration, so the only way to quickly suppress the infection is to inject the drug directly into the vitreous. The procedure is performed under sterile conditions, after treatment with an antiseptic and drip anesthesia; With endophthalmitis, the clock counts, since delay leads to irreversible loss of vision.
Why is the drug injected into the eye?
The eye is separated from the general bloodstream by a blood-ophthalmic barrier: the medicine taken in tablets reaches the retina in a negligible concentration. Therefore, local administration is widely used in ophthalmology - drops, injections under the conjunctiva, parabulbar, retrobulbar and directly into the vitreous body.
The deeper the drug is injected, the higher the concentration in the desired area, but the stricter the requirements for sterility and technique.
Types of drug administration
- subconjunctival - under the mucous membrane of the eye
- parabulbar - in the tissue around the eyeball
- retrobulbar - behind the eyeball, closer to the optic nerve
- intravitreal - directly into the vitreous body
What is important for the patient to know
Injections are performed after instillation of anesthetic drops, so pain is minimal. A slight hemorrhage under the conjunctiva after an injection is a common and safe occurrence; it resolves in 1–2 weeks. You should consult a doctor if pain increases, vision decreases, and redness increases a day after the procedure.