Dacryocystitis of newborns
In some newborns, the nasolacrimal canal is blocked by the remnants of the embryonic film: the tear does not go into the nose, the eye constantly waters, and purulent discharge appears. If massage of the lacrimal sac does not help for several weeks, probing is performed - a thin probe is passed through the lacrimal punctum and the film is broken. The procedure takes a few minutes and in most cases solves the problem in one go. The optimal age is 2–4 months: later the film thickens and the effectiveness decreases.
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.