Features in children
In children, the orbital volume is smaller, so the dose of the drug and the depth of administration are calculated separately. The main indications in childhood are progressive myopia, partial atrophy of the optic nerve, amblyopia as part of complex treatment and the consequences of inflammatory processes. The psychological aspect is important: the child is warned about the procedure, drip anesthesia is used, and the course is, if possible, divided into short series.
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.