Monitoring Intravitreal Injection Patients

When a patient reports receiving intravitreal injections, it is important to find out how many injections the patient has had and what type because studies show a change in corneal nerve length and density after the third intravitreal injection.

By
Pamela E. Theriot, OD
March 2, 2026
4 min

Optometric Management

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Intravitreal injections can lead to neurotrophic keratitis (NK), especially after the third injection, affecting corneal nerve health.
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Anti-VEGF injections may cause more corneal damage than other types due to VEGF's role in corneal nerve regeneration.
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Risk factors for NK include diabetes, stroke, autoimmune diseases, dry eye history, and multiple ocular surgeries.
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Corneal sensitivity testing is crucial for NK assessment, and eye drops should not be used prior to testing to avoid false results.
5

Early detection of NK is vital for intervention, as the disease progresses and becomes harder to treat, risking vision loss.

Monitoring Intravitreal Injection Patients

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Original Source(s)

Monitoring Intravitreal Injection Patients

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