Anti-angiogenic drugs have been used frequently in recent years to treat macular degeneration associated mainly to exudative aging. These pharmaceuticals destroy the abnormal vessels that form deep within the eye and cause bleeding, therefore triggering a series of complications in vision.

The intravitreal injection is a new procedure by which a special cortisone is delivered into the eye to cure the pathology. The application is by injection to the eye.

The cortisone substance eliminates the abnormal vessels in the ocular area that are responsible for retina diseases. The injection can be applied in a doctor’s office or in an operating room. This technique may scare some patients, but it is painless. To ease this possible fear of pain, anesthetic eye drops are applied before the pinch to numb the area and prevent the needle from doing any damage. Patients undergoing this treatment may experience some discomfort with the puncture, but nothing extremely unbearable.

Be aware that if the ophthalmologist opts for this treatment, it is due to the finding of a severe ocular problem. Effectiveness in the intravitreal injection is amazing – 40% of treated patients improve their visual acuity.