Injections in the back of the eye: The why, the what and when to worry.

Background: Many Australians, particularly the elderly, suffer from eye diseases that require treatment with regular injections given into the eye. These injections can result in complications, some of which can be vision threatening.

Objective: To summarise some of the more common reasons for intraocular injection, as well as some common and/or more serious complications of intraocular injection that might present to general practitioners.

Discussion: Intraocular injection is an increasingly common means of treatment for a range of eye conditions. Serious complications, although rare, often require acute intervention to achieve the best outcomes, and timely referral of patients with worrying symptoms is important to achieve optimum patient care.