Anti-VEGF Eye Injections: What They Treat and What to Expect
Quick answer: Anti-VEGF injections are medicines injected into the eye to block a protein (VEGF) that causes abnormal, leaky blood vessels. They are a standard treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular oedema and swelling after retinal vein occlusion. The injection is done with numbing drops and takes seconds; treatment usually starts monthly and is then spaced out. Pain, increasing redness or worsening vision after an injection needs urgent review.
Sudden pain, vision loss or an eye injury? Go to an eye hospital emergency service straight away. For routine eye checks and follow-up glasses, book at Vision Concern.
What do anti-VEGF injections treat?
- Wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), where new vessels leak under the macula.
- Diabetic macular oedema, swelling of the central retina in diabetes.
- Macular oedema after retinal vein occlusion.
- Myopic choroidal neovascularisation and some other conditions.
Medicines in this group include aflibercept, ranibizumab, bevacizumab and faricimab; the choice depends on the condition and the treating retina specialist.
What happens during the injection?
The eye is numbed with drops, cleaned with an antiseptic, and held open with a small clip. The medicine is injected through the white of the eye with a very fine needle. Most people feel pressure rather than pain. Afterwards the eye may be gritty, and a small red patch or a few floating bubbles are common for a few days.
How often are injections needed?
Treatment usually starts with injections about once a month, guided by OCT scans of the retina. When the condition is controlled, the interval is often extended. Regular injections and scans are what protect vision, so missing appointments is a common reason for vision loss.
Risks and warning signs
Serious complications are uncommon but include infection inside the eye (endophthalmitis), raised eye pressure, inflammation and retinal detachment. Seek urgent care at the eye hospital if, after an injection, you have increasing pain, increasing redness, worsening vision or light sensitivity.
How Vision Concern can help
Vision Concern is an eye-examination clinic and optical shop in Kathmandu with branches in Lazimpat, Boudha-Tushal and Makalbari. It does not give eye injections or treat emergencies; for those, go to an eye hospital. Its optometrists can carry out routine eye examinations, explain findings and advise on referral.
Frequently asked questions
Do anti-VEGF injections hurt?
Numbing drops are used, so most people feel brief pressure rather than pain; the eye may feel gritty for a day or so.
Can I drive after an eye injection?
Vision is often blurry for some hours, so plan for someone else to drive you home.
Do the injections cure the disease?
They control leakage and can stabilise or improve vision, but most conditions need ongoing monitoring and repeat treatment.
This guide is general education and does not replace an eye examination or advice from your treating doctor.
Yes. Many visitors, particularly from Bangladesh and West Bengal (Kolkata), come to Nepal for cataract, retina, or other eye surgery at a hospital and also want new glasses, a general eye exam, or contact lenses at the same time, before or after their procedure. Vision Concern is an optical and eye-examination clinic, not a surgical hospital, so we work alongside hospitals such as Tilganga: we are happy to see you for glasses, contact lenses, or a routine check-up either side of your surgical treatment elsewhere.
No conversion is needed. Eyeglass prescriptions from Germany, France, the UK, the USA, China, Russia, and almost every other country use the same international format, SPH (sphere), CYL (cylinder), and AXIS, measured in diopters. Our opticians read this directly, so you can bring your prescription paper, a photo of it on your phone, or simply your current glasses, and we will use the same values. If your prescription is more than a year or two old, we recommend a quick, free re-check before we make your new pair.
Yes. Above roughly 3,000 metres, UV exposure increases sharply because of the thinner atmosphere and reflection off snow, and ordinary sunglasses (category 2-3) do not block enough UV to prevent snow blindness (photokeratitis). We recommend glacier glasses or category-4 sunglasses with side shields, and can fit these with your own prescription if needed. Vision Concern offers ZEISS polarized, UV400-certified sunglasses with prescription lenses, which we can prepare before you set off on your trek.