What is a Avastin Injection Procedure?
An Avastin injection is a 5–15 minute outpatient procedure where 0.05 mL of bevacizumab is injected into the vitreous (eye cavity) to treat retinal diseases like macular degeneration. Topical anesthesia is used, with minimal discomfort.
Avastin Injection Procedure
Post-Procedure: You’ll be monitored for 15–30 minutes for acute reactions (e.g., redness in 15–20% of cases). Antibiotic drops are prescribed to prevent infection.
Treatments are repeated every 4–6 weeks based on disease severity. Risks include transient floaters (5–10%), retinal detachment (0.1–1%), or infection (<0.1%). Clinical trials show ~70% efficacy in stabilizing vision for wet AMD.
Action: Avoid rubbing the eye for 24 hours. Report severe pain or vision loss immediately. Follow-up scans (OCT) track progress.
How is Avastin Injection Given?
An Avastin injection is administered as an intravitreal injection (into the eye’s vitreous cavity) in a 5–15 minute outpatient procedure. You receive topical anesthesia, followed by a precise 0.05 mL dose using a thin needle.
Step-by-Step Guide for Avastin Injection
Preparation:
Your eye is numbed with anesthetic drops (e.g., proparacaine) to minimize discomfort.
The surrounding skin is cleaned with antiseptic (e.g., 5% povidone-iodine) to reduce infection risk (<0.1%)
Injection Process:
A sterile eyelid speculum holds your eye open.
A 30–31-gauge needle injects 0.05 mL of Avastin into the vitreous, 3.5–4 mm from the corneal limbus (edge).
You may feel slight pressure or see temporary floaters (5–10% of cases).
Post-Procedure Care:
Antibiotic drops (e.g., moxifloxacin) are applied to prevent infection.
You’re monitored for 15–30 minutes for acute reactions (e.g., redness in 15–20%).
Follow-Up:
Repeat injections are scheduled every 4–6 weeks, depending on your condition (e.g., wet AMD, diabetic retinopathy).
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans track fluid reduction (~70% efficacy in stabilizing vision).
Risks: Retinal detachment (0.1–1%), transient blurred vision (5–10%), or elevated eye pressure (5–15%). Severe pain or vision loss requires immediate care.
How Many Avastin Injection Will You Need?
You may need 3–6 initial Avastin injections spaced 4–6 weeks apart, with ongoing treatments adjusted based on your condition’s response. Chronic cases (e.g., wet AMD) often require 8–10 yearly injections long-term.
Condition-Specific Plans:
Wet AMD: Initial monthly injections for 3 months, then tapered to every 6–8 weeks if fluid stabilizes (~60% of cases).
Diabetic Macular Edema: Average 5–7 injections in the first year, spaced 4–6 weeks apart.
Retinal Vein Occlusion: 3–4 injections over 3–6 months, with 30–40% needing continued therapy.