Managing Eye Irritation After Anti-VEGF Injections for AMD

Medically reviewed by Paul B. Griggs, M.D.

Written by Sarah Winfrey

Posted on October 30, 2026

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Key Takeaways

People living with wet age-related macular degeneration may receive anti-VEGF eye injections as part of their care, and knowing what to expect afterward can make the experience easier.
Common side effects after these injections can include eye irritation, floaters, dark spots or bubbles in vision, redness, and mild soreness, and most of these effects tend to go away on their own. Some people find relief through options like cool compresses, lubricating eye drops, over-the-counter pain relievers, avoiding screens, and resting their eyes after the procedure.
It is important to reach out to your eye doctor right away if you notice serious symptoms after an injection, such as severe pain, sudden vision changes, worsening redness, or difficulty breathing, and your doctor can help guide you on the best steps to take for your care.

View all takeaways

If you live with wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD), your doctor may recommend injections of anti-VEGF (anti-vascular endothelial growth factor) medication to treat it.

These injections may help slow vision loss and preserve or even improve your vision.

But before you have these injections for the first time, it’s important to know what to expect afterward. Most side effects from eye injections don’t last long, and you can manage them at home.

In this article, we cover what side effects you might experience from anti-VEGF injections (which your doctor may call intravitreal injections) and how to manage them.

Side Effects of Anti-VEGF Eye Injections

There are several side effects you might experience from anti-VEGF injections. Most of them are managed in similar ways.

Common side effects after having eye injections include:

Irritated eyes — Your eyes may burn or feel gritty or uncomfortable, like there’s something in your eye. This effect is caused by antiseptics used to protect your eyes from infection.
Floaters in the eye — You may see small spots or shapes floating across your vision. These usually fade over time. This effect may happen as the medication spreads out in the eye.
Dark circles or bubbles in your vision — You may experience a single spot or many small ones. These are bubbles and should go away on their own over a few days.
A small, reddish spot on the eye — This may appear where the injection was done, and it should disappear on its own.
Mild pain and soreness on or around the eye — This pain can happen at the injection site or from the tools used to stretch your eye open for the procedure.

How Common Are These Side Effects?

There’s not much research on how common these side effects are. Some people on myAMDteam report having them, while others don’t. It’s important to know what might happen after your injections, but you may not have any problems at all. Your reaction may also vary from one injection to the next.

🗳️ What helps you most with discomfort after eye injections?

Using a cool compress or ice mask

Using lubricating eye drops

Taking an over-the-counter pain reliever

Resting my eyes until the discomfort passes

What Can You Do To Manage Side Effects From Eye Injections?

You can do several things to manage the side effects of anti-VEGF eye injections. You may need to experiment to find out which of these options work best for you, or try them in combination.

Try Over-the-Counter Pain Relief

Everyday pain relievers such as acetaminophen can help with both eye pain and eye irritation. Talk to your ophthalmologist before taking them to make sure they’re right for you.

Follow all instructions for the pain reliever you choose. Use it responsibly, and let your doctor know if it doesn’t work.

If you’ve had these eye injections before and know you’ll need pain relief afterward, talk to your doctor about taking a dose before the procedure. This may help reduce irritation from antiseptics like Betadine.

Apply Cool Compresses

Close your eyes and place something cool over them. This can be a damp washcloth that you run under cool water.

One myAMDteam member who uses this method shared, “I use a cool compress after the injection to soothe my eyes, and I always take a nap to rest my eyes.”

Other people may prefer something colder on their eyes, like an ice pack or ice mask.

Another myAMDteam member swears by this. They shared, “What helps me through three years of injections in both eyes is using a gel ice mask right after. I bring it with me in a small cooler, and I wear it home as my daughter drives.”

If you choose this method, follow the instructions on your ice pack or mask, and talk to your ophthalmology team about how long you should leave it on.

Use Lubricating Eye Drops

Lubricating eye drops can help relieve discomfort around the eyeball. Follow your doctor’s instructions about how often and how long to use these drops.

Your healthcare team may recommend a certain type or brand of over-the-counter eye drops for use after your eye injections. They may also prescribe some. Either way, follow the instructions you’re given.

One myAMDteam member found a way to combine using eye drops and cooling after anti-VEGF treatment. They shared, “Tip of the day: Keep your eye drops in the refrigerator! Cold drops feel wonderful!”

If you’d like to try chilled eye drops, ask your doctor whether yours can be refrigerated.

Other Options That May Help

Additional options you can try for managing side effects from anti-VEGF therapy include:

Avoiding screens to rest your eyes
Keeping track of your side effects and what helps (or doesn’t) so you can be better prepared for your next injection
Using an eye patch for a few hours, especially if your doctor applies one after your injection

What To Avoid After Eye Injections

In addition to using certain tools to help with side effects, avoiding certain actions can help protect your eyes and support healing after your injections.

After your injections, avoid the following:

Rubbing your eyes or going places with a lot of dust or pollen, where you might want to rub them
Wearing contacts until your doctor tells you it’s OK
Lifting heavy items, bending with your head below your waist, or doing strenuous exercise during the day after your injections
Taking baths, going swimming, or putting your head under water for a week or so
Getting shampoo or tap water into your eyes on the day of the injection, unless your doctor tells you otherwise

Your doctor will tell you exactly how long to avoid these activities. Being careful after your eye injections can help you avoid problems that might mean another trip to the eye doctor.

When Do You Need To Call Your Doctor After Eye Injections?

Occasionally, people experience more serious eye issues after anti-VEGF eye injections. If you have any of these issues, you will need additional medical care.

Symptoms to look for include:

Severe pain after the injection or pain that gets worse instead of better
Flashes of light in your vision
Sudden vision loss or vision loss that’s getting steadily worse
Severe floaters that are constant or getting worse
Eye redness that gets worse
Green or yellow discharge from your eye
Light sensitivity that’s new or gets worse after the day of your procedure
A rash or difficulty breathing, which may be signs of an allergic reaction

In some cases, you may need emergency medical care. Your eye doctor may give you a list of specific symptoms that mean you need this kind of care. Or they may want you to contact them first so they can tell you what to do next.

Contact your eye doctor right away if you notice any of these symptoms. If your doctor is unavailable, seek emergency care. Call 911 if you have trouble breathing.

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