Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 17, 2026

Author Spotlight: A Novel Protocol for Intracameral Injections to Enhance Precision in Rodent Ophthalmology
Published on: May 31, 2024
Nurse specialists for the administration of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor intravitreal injections
Priya Samalia1, David Garland2, David Squirrell3
1Ophthalmology Department, Dunedin Public Hospital, 201 Great King Street, Dunedin, New Zealand. prapri14@gmail.com.
Aim:
The number of individuals with chronic conditions such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is increasing, and consequently the treatment burden for anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) intravitreal injections is also increasing. The use of nurse specialists to administer anti-VEGF intravitreal injections has been proposed to address this treatment burden. This was a prospective safety audit to determine the safety of nurse specialists for the delivery of anti-VEGF intravitreal injections.
Method:
A prospective safety audit was undertaken for a nurse specialist-delivered injection service in the Ophthalmology Clinic, Greenlane Clinical Centre. The department's senior medical retinal consultant supervised the nurse specialist training programme. The clinical safety of anti-VEGF intravitreal injections delivered by nurse specialists, and the impact of this programme on clinical capacity at our Institute was reviewed.
Results:
The nurse specialists administered a total of 2,900 injections over an 18-month period. Two patients developed endophthalmitis post injection (1 infective, 1 non-infective). Two patients had a vitreous haemorrhage, and five patients had raised intraocular pressure. The incidence of post-injection endophthalmitis, vitreous haemorrhage and raised intraocular pressure was 0.07%, 0.07% and 0.17%, respectively.
Conclusion:
The nurse specialist-delivered injection service is a safe and effective service for treatment of wet AMD, diabetic macular oedema and vein occlusion.
Related Concept Videos
Open Angle Glaucoma: Treatment
Drugs such as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, α2- and...
Varicose Veins II: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care
Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care
Angle Closure Glaucoma: Treatment
Venous Thrombosis IV: Nursing Management

