Eye Injections: What Are the Options and Which Shot Should I Get?

In the setting of ocular melanoma, the most common reason you may need an eye injection is to treat radiation retinopathy. The class of drugs that may help with radiation retinopathy is "anti-VEGF therapy" (VEGF = vascular endothelial growth factor). The various options are Avastin (bevacizumab), Eylea (aflibercept), Eylea HD, Lucentis (ranibizumab), Vabysmo (faricimab), and Beovu (brolocizumab). All will potentially be beneficial, and sometimes your doctor may switch to a different one of these drugs to get more of an effect. The second reason you may need an eye injection is to treat inflammation. The class of drugs to treat signs and symptoms of inflammation is steroid therapy. The steroids on a needle include kenalog (triamcinolone), Triescence (triamcinolone), Ozurdex (dexamethasone) and Xipere (triamcinolone). It is important that your ocular oncologist or retina specialist distinguish the difference between radiation retinopathy and inflammation because the treatments for these different conditions are also different. Inflammation will usually get better; radiation retinopathy may worsen with time, but usually stabilizes or plateaus. Anti-VEGF therapy can improve your symptoms of radiation retinopathy especially early on. However, the shots don't "cure" radiation retinopathy, and most people do not need anti-VEGF shots indefinitely. Welcome to Finding Your Way with Ocular Melanoma, a guide to understanding everything there is to know about your experience with this rare cancer. Learn through the lens of my knowledge and clinical experience as a physician expert and passionate patient advocate. The more you know about ocular melanoma, the better you will do, and the better you will live. Let's go! For Tara McCannel's resources (including webinar links and link to my book!), visit my website: https://seyhart.com/ocularmelanoma The content shared on the Finding Your Way with Ocular Melanoma podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information provided must not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. As a listener, you are responsible for your own health-related decisions and must consider consulting with a healthcare professional for personalized medical advice.  Tara McCannel MD PhD is a an ocular oncologist, vitreoretinal surgeon and co-founder of Seyhart Wellness. She is also the host of the Mind Body MD podcast where she shares her passion for holistic health and wellness.