Topical Proparacaine Eye Drops to Improve the Experience of Patients Undergoing Intravitreal Injections

Topical Proparacaine Eye Drops to Improve the Experience of Patients Undergoing Intravitreal Injections

The specific aims of this study are to compare patient experience with and without a proparacaine drop after povidone iodine.

To ensure the extra drop does not interfere with antisepsis, conjunctival cultures will be obtained from patients undergoing intravitreal injection before and after the application of the extra eye drop. Patients will be randomized to undergo additional topical analgesia during intravitreal injection vs. the standard amount of topical analgesia. Cultures of the eyelid/conjunctiva will be taken to ensure that the additional topical analgesia does not interfere with antisepsis.

Inclusion Criteria:

• patients undergoing intravitreal injection who do not have active eye infections
• greater than 18 years of age

Exclusion Criteria:

• patients younger than 18 years of age
• patients with active eye infections