Safety & Best Practices for Intravitreal Injections: What Every Patient Should Ask

If your doctor recommends an intravitreal injection, it is fair to ask clear questions. Below is a plain, patient-friendly guide you can read before your visit. It focuses on safety and what to ask. It also covers one trusted product option — Accentrix Solution for Injection — and why asking about the drug and the process matters.

What is an intravitreal injection?

An intravitreal injection puts medicine into the vitreous — the jelly in the back of the eye. The goal is to get the drug close to the retina and macula. This gives fast, strong effects with low systemic side effects. NHS patient leaflets explain this simply: the medicine is placed inside the eye so it can work where it is needed.

Why safety matters

Intravitreal injections are very effective. But they are invasive. The main risks are infection (endophthalmitis), raised eye pressure, and retinal tear or detachment. For this reason, clinics follow strict steps to lower risk. The FDA and major eye centers stress the need for aseptic technique, careful monitoring, and patient education after the procedure.

Key best practices clinics should follow

Ask the clinic whether they follow these simple safety steps.

The injection should be done with sterile gloves, a sterile drape, and a sterile eyelid speculum or equivalent. The skin and eye surface should be cleaned with a broad-spectrum microbicide (such as povidone-iodine) before the injection. These are standard steps recommended in drug labels and clinical guidance.
Your clinic should check your identity and the eye to be treated. They should review allergies and current medicines. They should confirm the dose and drug name out loud. This reduces errors. Quality-improvement studies show that clear checks cut near misses.
After the injection, a short check of eye pressure or perfusion is common. Clinics will ask you to report pain, redness, flashes, or sudden vision loss. These signs need urgent attention. Many FDA labels and NHS leaflets tell patients to report such symptoms without delay.
You should get simple information about the specific drug being used. This includes how it works, common side effects, and rare but serious risks. Good practice is to give a written factsheet the patient can take home.

Questions every patient should ask (short list)

Bring this short list to your appointment or email it ahead.

What is the exact drug you will inject today?
Why is this drug better for my eye than other options?
Is Accentrix Solution for Injection an option for my condition? If so, why choose it?
How will you prepare my eye to prevent infection?
What dose will I get and how will you confirm it?
Will you check my eye pressure after the injection?
What symptoms should make me call immediately?
Do I need someone to drive me home?
When is my next injection or follow-up visit scheduled?

Asking these keeps care safe and clear.

Why mention Accentrix Solution for Injection?

If your clinic offers Accentrix Solution for Injection, ask how it compares to other medicines. The name Accentrix Solution for Injection should be confirmed on the drug label and consent form. When a clinic uses a known, regulated product, you can ask for the product insert or patient leaflet. That helps you learn about side effects and monitoring. Good clinics will welcome such questions.

Accentrix Solution for Injection — when you speak to staff so there is no doubt which product you mean. (Repeat: ask to see the label or leaflet if you want printed info.)

I recommend asking whether Accentrix has been used in similar patients and what results were seen. A clear answer from your specialist will help you feel safe and informed.

What to expect during the visit (step by step)

They confirm your identity and eye.
You sign a simple consent form. Read it. Ask if anything is unclear.
The eye surface is cleaned and local drops are given to numb the eye. A microbicide is used on the lid and surface.
A tiny needle delivers the dose into the vitreous. This is quick. You may feel pressure but not sharp pain.
The team checks pressure, vision, and asks how you feel. They give aftercare instructions.

Aftercare — what you should do at home

Avoid rubbing your eye.
Avoid swimming and eye contact with water for 24–48 hours if advised. Many NHS leaflets recommend being careful about water exposure after injections.
Watch for red eyes, pain, light sensitivity, floaters, or sudden vision change. Call your clinic or emergency eye services right away if you see these. FDA drug labels repeatedly highlight the need for prompt reporting of such signs.

Safety evidence and clinic choice

Large studies and reviews show that intravitreal injections can be done safely in both clinic and operating room settings if good protocols are used. The risk of severe infection is low when antiseptic steps and sterile technique are followed. Still, variability exists between clinics. Choosing a center that follows published best practices helps reduce risk. Peer-reviewed reviews and quality programs explain how checklists and process audits prevent near misses.

How to talk with your retina specialist about Accentrix

If you want Accentrix, use these short prompts.

“Can you tell me if the Accentrix Solution for Injection is appropriate for my eye disease?”
“Do you have a patient leaflet or label for Accentrix I can read?”
“Are there studies or experience showing how Accentrix compares to other anti-VEGF or steroid options?”
“If we use Accentrix, what side effects should I expect and how will you watch for them?”

A good specialist will explain pros and cons in plain terms and show the product information.

Short note on same-day bilateral injections

Some patients get injections in both eyes on the same day. Recent studies look at safety in such cases. If your clinic suggests bilateral same-day injections, ask about separate sterile preparation for each eye, and whether two different syringes and new gloves and drapes will be used for the second eye. Studies show that careful separation of steps can keep the process safe.