No difference in pain was reported with a smaller size intravitreal injection needle (2024)

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PHILADELPHIA – Patients who received intravitreal injections did not experience less pain with a slightly smaller diameter needle, according to a study presented byChristopher M. Aderman, MD,at the Wills Eye conference.

In the randomized, prospective study, 49 patients underwent bilateral injections of Eylea (aflibercept, Regeneron) or Lucentis (ranibizumab, Genentech) on the same day, and pain scores were compared with a 30-gauge needle versus a 30-gauge needle. a 33-gauge needle.

The 30-gauge needles, which come standard with the medications, have an outer diameter of 0.31 mm, while the 33-gauge needles have a diameter of 0.21 mm, a 32% reduction, Aderman said.

Each subject received the first injection in the right eye, with the needle size selected randomly, and the contralateral eye received the second size needle. The subjects were asked to rate their pain after each injection on a scale of 0 to 10.

The average score was 3.1 for the 30-gauge needle and 2.7 for the 33-gauge needle, which Aderman said was not a statistically significant difference.

“There is no difference in pain scores between 33- and 30-gauge needles and no difference in our post hoc analysis of age, sex or diagnosis,” he said. “Ultimately, patient discomfort during intravitreal injection is multifocal.”

Additionally, the cost of the smaller needles can be prohibitive: 30-gauge costs $0.15 each and 33-gauge costs $0.50 each, Aderman said.–door Rebecca L. Forand

Reference:

Aderman CM. Comparison of patient experiences during intravitreal injections with 33-gauge versus 30-gauge needles. Presented at: Wills Eye Conference; March 8 to 10, 2018; Philadelphia.

Revelation:Aderman does not report relevant financial information.