I am experiencing my first diabetic eye problem, I have a diabetic macular edema in my left eye.
I am scheduled for a series of intraocular injections in my left eye with a drug known as Lucentis, I would like to hear from others that have undergone this treatment. What were your experiences? What should I expect during and after treatments and most importantly was it successful.
Thank you in advanced for any help given.
Gary
I have Dry MQcular degeneration in both eyes. for about 9 years. Over the last 5 or 6 years I have had 16 Lucentis injections in my left eye, These were not doe as a series of 16 but maybe 4 or five in a row. Then I would not need any for quite awhile. I go to the Doctor every 2-3 months and if he sees any signs of leakage I get a shot. So far these shots have worked well and stabilized my condition.
Before the first shot I had all kinds of visions of what getting an injection in the eye would feel like. YOu will feel nothing except a little pushing pressure when he inserts the needle. With me when the Lucentis is delivered I felt like I sae a figure 8 in that eye. That was the Lucentis liquid I was eeing. It soon disperses. Before each injection I counted 14 different things they dropped in or rubbed around my eye for dilation, cleaning, antobacyerial etc. After the injection expect to feel pressure in the eye because the Lucentis is addition fluid in the eye and the pressure increases. I always have to wait in another room until my pressures come doen to nornal, That takes around 20 minutes, I am also given a prescription for antibiotic eye drops which I have use use 4 x per day for 4 days. This is to elimiante any possible change of infection from the shot. Friens of mine who go to anothe Doctor do not have anywhere near the amount of prep a[pplied to the eye and are given no antibiotic eye drops. Personally I prefer my Doctors approach much better because of it’s thouroughness. With me it takes until the next morning before all of the drops have worn off. Once in awhile the needle from the injection will hit a blood vessel and then the white of your eye turn blod red. It looks weird but is not uncomfortable and will absorb into the body in about 2 weeks. Fortunately this has happened only once.
The charge for each of my Lucentis injections is $3000 and Medicare and my supplement plan pay all of it. I have had no out of pocket ec=xpense.
Good luck with the injections - the i nitial apprehension is worse than the experience.
Gary, I found these discussions
http://www.tudiabetes.org/group/diabeticswitheyeproblems/forum/topics/lucentis-for-macular-edema
big hugs my friend, keep us posted when you're going to have this.
I really feel for you. I would be anxious about this procedure and be searching for information just like you. My local retina guy is Randy Wong who is a member here. He is a retina specialist and has lots of information on his website both on Lucentis and on macular edema. Randy is a really generous guy, he has answered questions here and would probably answer direct emails. But check out his website, it has lots of information.
Thank you Marie. I found the discussion very enlightening.
Thanks Brian. You are lucky to see such a gifted doctor. I have thoroughly checked out his site.
Thank you LBREP. My eye doctor describes the treatment just as you have. Just a slight pressure. He has also told me the worse part is the anticipation.
I have frequent injections in my eye but a different drug and for a different reason. I’m prone to eye bleeds. So I get periodic shots of Avastin. It works to keep the eye quiet for a while. The procedure is the same for lucentis as it is for Avastin. You lie back. They wash all around the outside of your eye. They clamp it open (this, for me, is the worst part). They flush your eye thoroughly with washes and numbing drops etc. then the doctor says look way up into you head. Then he announces inject. The needle goes in and you can see an immediate flush into your eye of liquid.
I would say the injection takes two seconds and you’re only in the chair for ten minutes. The majority of the time is spent prepping you. Then when it’s over I get one dose of antibacterial ointment applied to my eye which I find soothing. I only have to apply ointment at bedtime the first night.
At first I was horrified about all this but I have probably had a dozen to 15 shots over the past three years. I have come to welcome them. They work and when you consider the alternative you feel grateful that such a sight saving procedure exists.
I have had blood in the white of my eye only twice and it was so far down under my lid that no one could even see it. It’s fairly painless. I always feel like I have a speck of dust under my eyelid for the rest of the day. The next day I’m fine to do anything and glad that medicine is in there and that it works so well.
Best of luck with it. You will be fine.
Big hugs dear Gary...so sorry you're experiencing this. I have eye conditions....but not that one.