Step 1) Request the technician rinse your eye out with eye wash thoroughly following the injection.
Step 2) If your eye has a burning sensation, then consider using preservative free artificial tears every 1 hour as needed for discomfort (see example on the left). Be sure to wash your hands with soap and water and avoid touching your eye lashes.
Step 3) If you are unable to open your eye, this may be the sign of a corneal abrasion. It is recommended you call your physician. They will likely prescribe an antibiotic ointment to be used. The scratch resolves within 24-36 hours, without causing any permanent vision loss.
Step 4) Recognize the signs of endophthalmitis – endophthalmitis is a rare, but serious infection of the eye. It may lead to blindness if not treated emergently. It most commonly occurs 3-5 days following an injection, but may occur sooner or later. The signs are a combination of the three following findings: redness around the entire eye that gets worse not better, severe eye pain, and extreme sensitivity to light. This is a medical emergency and requires a call to your physician immediately. If the physician is unavailable or does not answer, go immediately to an ER that has an eye doctor on-call.