Numbing drops
The eye is thoroughly numbed and cleaned first. You stay awake and comfortable.
Retina injections · Himayat Nagar
The diabetic retina injection, explained
If a scan has shown swelling at the back of your eye, you may have been advised an injection. This page explains what an intravitreal anti-VEGF injection is, why it is used for diabetic swelling, what it feels like, and how many may be needed.
Why an injection
The swelling is deep inside the eye.
Diabetic macular oedema is leakage and swelling at the macula, the centre of your retina that gives you sharp, central sight. Drops and tablets simply can't reach it in useful amounts. Putting the medicine directly into the eye is what calms the leak and protects your reading and recognition vision.
The day
What the injection is actually like.
A quick, in-house procedure under numbing drops, not an operation and not an overnight stay.
The injection
The medicine is given through a tiny needle in seconds. Most feel pressure, not a sharp pain.
Brief check
A short rest and you go home the same day, with simple aftercare and our number for any worry.
OCT follow-up
We re-scan to measure how the swelling responds, and decide if and when the next dose is needed.
About the course
Usually a course, not a one-off.
The exact number cannot be known on day one. Treatment is started, the response is measured, and the plan is updated.
Patient guide
Intravitreal injection: what to know before you decide.
What happens on the day, what the eye feels like afterwards, and the risks, stated plainly.
Who it is for
- People in whom an OCT scan shows swelling at the centre of the retina from diabetes (diabetic macular oedema).
- Whether an injection is advised depends on the scan, your vision and your general health. Not every eye with diabetic changes needs one.
What happens, step by step
- Scan and decision.An OCT scan shows the swelling. The surgeon explains why an injection is advised and what the alternatives are.
- Preparation.Numbing drops are applied and the eye and eyelids are cleaned with antiseptic.
- Injection.The eyelids are held open and the medicine is injected through the white of the eye. The injection itself takes a few seconds.
- Check.The eye is checked before you go home, with drops and written instructions.
- Follow-up.A repeat OCT scan shows the response and guides whether and when the next injection is given.
Which tests are done, and why
- OCT of the macula.Measures the swelling before treatment and after each injection.
- Eye pressure.Recorded because pressure can rise briefly after an injection.
- Dilated retina examination.Shows the overall state of the retina.
What you feel
- With numbing drops, most people feel pressure and a brief sting.
- For a day or so the eye can feel gritty and watery.
- A red patch on the white of the eye at the injection site is common and clears over one to two weeks.
- Small floating spots can be seen for a few days.
After the injection
- First day.Rest the eye. Do not rub it.
- First few days.Keep water and dust out of the eye and avoid swimming, as written in your instructions.
- Call the same day.Increasing pain, increasing redness, a drop in vision or many new floaters need attention the same day. Use the contact number on your written instructions.
- Next visit.The date of the follow-up scan is written down for you.
Risks and limits
- Risks include infection inside the eye, which is uncommon but serious.
- A rise in eye pressure.
- Bleeding inside the eye.
- A retinal tear or detachment, or injury to the lens, which are rare.
- Tell the surgeon if you have had a recent stroke or heart attack, or if you are or may be pregnant.
- Injections control the swelling and usually need to be repeated. The gain in vision varies and depends on how much damage was present before treatment.
The surgeon explains these, and how likely each is for your eye, before you consent.
What you are told before you consent
- What the examination and measurements show, in plain language.
- The options for your eye, including waiting or not having the procedure.
- What the procedure is expected to do, and what it cannot do.
- The risks that apply to your eye in particular.
- A written estimate, and whether your insurance policy is likely to apply.
- You do not need to decide on the day of the consultation. Nothing is scheduled without your signed consent.
What affects the cost
- The medicine advised for your eye.
- The number of injections needed, which cannot be known at the start.
- The OCT scans at follow-up.
- Intravitreal injections are typically cashless with the hospital's empanelled insurers and TPAs, subject to your policy.
A written estimate is given after the consultation, once your eyes have been examined.
What to bring
- Your recent blood sugar and blood pressure records.
- A list of your medicines, including blood thinners. Do not stop any medicine on your own.
- Earlier OCT scans and retina reports.
- Your insurance or TPA card and a photo ID, if you plan to use cashless.
- Someone to accompany you home.
How care is organised here
Assessment, procedure and follow-up as one plan.
Your assessment, your retina injection treatment and follow-up visits are planned together, so the findings from your consultation carry through to the procedure and the reviews afterwards.
1
ConsultationExamination, measurements and time for your questions.
2
ProcedurePlanned from the measurements taken at your consultation.
3
Follow-upReview visits at set intervals, with written instructions.
At your consultation
What is discussed before any procedure.
- You meet the operating surgeon before the day of the procedure.
- The lens or treatment plan is discussed in relation to your eye and your daily needs.
- Risks, benefits and alternatives are explained, and results vary from person to person.
- You are told whom to contact after the procedure and when your reviews are due.
Dr. P. Siva Reddy Eye Hospital
Himayat Nagar, Hyderabad. Established 1975.
Surgeon: Dr. H. Siva Mohan Reddy, MBBS, DO, DNB (Ophthalmology). Registered with the Telangana State Medical Council, Reg. No. 57104.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What is an intravitreal injection?
It is a tiny injection of medicine into the jelly-filled space inside the eye (the vitreous), given to treat retinal conditions like diabetic macular oedema. The medicine, usually an anti-VEGF drug, reduces the leaking and swelling at the back of the eye. After numbing drops it takes only a couple of minutes, and most patients feel pressure rather than pain.
Does the injection hurt?
The eye is numbed with drops first, and most people feel a brief sensation of pressure rather than sharp pain. The eye may feel gritty or slightly red for a day afterwards, which usually settles. Each step is explained to you.
Why do I need an injection and not just tablets or drops?
Diabetic macular oedema is swelling at the centre of the retina, deep inside the eye, where tablets and drops cannot reach in useful amounts. Delivering the medicine directly into the eye is what actually reduces the swelling and protects your central vision. It is the established, evidence-based treatment.
How many injections will I need?
It varies a lot by eye. Some settle in three or four doses; others need ongoing treatment with regular review and repeat injections over time. The exact number cannot be known on day one. Treatment is started, your response is measured with OCT scans, and the plan is updated as you go.
What is anti-VEGF medicine?
VEGF is a protein that drives the abnormal, leaking blood vessels and swelling seen in diabetic retinopathy. Anti-VEGF medicines block it, calming the leakage. Several brands exist; the choice depends on your eye and your situation, and the options are explained to you.
Is the injection treatment cashless on my insurance?
Intravitreal injections are typically cashless, but it depends on your policy and approvals. Send your insurer or TPA name on WhatsApp before you visit and we will confirm cover for your case before the day.
What does retina injection treatment cost in Hyderabad?
It depends on the medicine your eye needs and how many injections, which the surgeon determines after examining you and reviewing your OCT. A written estimate is given after the consultation. You can contact the hospital on WhatsApp or by phone.
How do I know if injections are what my retina needs?
That is decided from imaging. The surgeon examines your eyes with OCT and retinal scans, explains the findings, and sets out a plan for your case, which is explained before anything is done.
Medically reviewed by Dr. H. Siva Mohan Reddy, MBBS, DO, DNB (Ophthalmology). Registered with the Telangana State Medical Council, Reg. No. 57104. Last reviewed 26 June 2026.
Appointments and contact
You can reach Dr. P. Siva Reddy Eye Hospital on WhatsApp or by phone during OPD hours.
OPD hours: Monday to Saturday, 10 AM to 2 PM and 4:30 PM to 7 PM. Closed on Sunday.