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Updated: Mar 16, 2026
Intravitreous Injection for Establishing Ocular Diseases Model
Published on: October 1, 2007
CLINICAL EVALUATION OF THE RAPID ACCESS VITREAL INJECTION GUIDE: A Handheld Instrument for Assisting Intravitreal
Dennis P Han1, Kaitlin C McKenney, Judy E Kim
1*Department of Ophthalmology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; †Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, and Epidemiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; and ‡Retina Associates, PA, Shawnee Mission, Kansas.
Purpose:
The Rapid Access Vitreal Injection (RAVI) guide combines the function of an eyelid speculum and measuring caliper into a single instrument for assisting intravitreal injections. This study clinically evaluated the RAVI guide with respect to patient acceptance, complication rates, and operative goals.
Methods:
A prospective study was performed on 54 patients undergoing intravitreal injections using the RAVI guide (n = 32) or the speculum/caliper (n = 22). Device-related pain was assessed using the Wong-Baker scoring system, scaled from 0 (no pain) to 10 (agonizing pain).
Results:
Mean device-related pain score did not differ significantly between the 2 groups, with scores of 0.6 and 0.7 for the RAVI guide and speculum groups, respectively. The rate of significant pain (score of ≥2) was twice as high in the speculum group (7 of 22, 32%) compared with the RAVI guide group (5 of 32, 16%), but this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.19, Fisher's exact test). Operative goals of avoiding needle touch to lashes/lids and guiding needle insertion to the intended site were achieved in all patients.
Conclusion:
The RAVI guide appeared equivalent to the eyelid speculum in achieving operative goals, with similarly low pain scores. It has the potential for facilitating efficient, accurate, and safe intravitreal injections.
