This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Guarded 33-gauge device reduces intravitreal injection time
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
A novel guarded 33-gauge injection device reduced intravitreal injection time and may reduce the risk of infection compared with a standard 30-gauge needle, according to a study.
The single-center, prospective, randomized study comprised 70 subjects who underwent injection with the 33-gauge device without a speculum in one eye and injection with a 30-gauge needle with a speculum in the fellow eye on the same day.
The average time to perform an intravitreal injection with the 33-gauge device was significantly shorter compared with the 30-gauge needle: 22.7 seconds vs. 34.2 seconds.
There was no significant difference in pain level between the two injection devices, but 84.3% of subjects said the 33-gauge device was as comfortable as or more comfortable than the 30-gauge needle.
No cases of infection occurred even though there was documented video contact of the 33-gauge device with the eyelids or conjunctiva in seven cases. This suggests that the device may have a protective effect.
Disclosure: Eaton, Avery and Wafapoor have a proprietary interest in this work. The remaining authors have no relevant financial disclosures.
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts