What does rinsing show?
A saline solution is injected through the lacrimal punctum: if it freely enters the nose, the lacrimal ducts are passable; if it returns back or exits through the second point, there is an obstruction, and the doctor determines where exactly by the level of return. At the same time, the procedure flushes out the contents of the lacrimal sac and allows the administration of an antiseptic or antibiotic. Rinsing is prescribed for constant lacrimation, chronic dacryocystitis, and also before eye surgery - to exclude the source of infection in the lacrimal sac.
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.