Intraocular

Written byCourtney Dryer, OD

Last updated November 9, 2022

What is Intraocular?

Intraocular refers to within the eye. The term may be used in reference to implantation or administration of treatment in the eye. Most commonly, it is used in discussion about measuring the intraocular pressure (IOP) within the eye, intraocular lens (IOL) implantation for cataract surgery, or an intraocular injection for diabetic retinopathy or age-related macular degeneration.

Cataract surgery involves the implantation of an intraocular lens.
Tonometry measures the intraocular pressure within the eye in glaucoma management.
Intraocular injections are given to treat neovascularization in diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration.

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Understanding Intraocular

Intraocular refers to the inside or within the eye.

Intraocular Term Use

Intraocular Pressure (IOP)

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness around the world. The most common types of glaucoma are open angle in Caucasians and closed angle glaucoma in Asians. Increased intraocular pressure is a risk factor for developing open angle glaucoma, and can be modified with anti-glaucomatous eye drops, laser, or surgical treatments. Aqueous fluid is produced within the eye and should flow out through the trabecular meshwork. If there is a dysfunction, the IOP will increase causing optic nerve damage. Lowering intraocular pressure is currently the only therapeutic measure for glaucoma management.

Intraocular Lens (IOL)

During cataract surgery, an IOL lens is implanted in place of your natural lens. Typically, it is placed in the posterior (back) chamber of the eye. A variety of IOLs are available to match the patient’s desired visual outcome post surgery. A cataract surgeon will perform a comprehensive ocular examination and lifestyle evaluation to counsel a patient on the best option.

Intraocular Injection

An intraocular injection is typically an injection into the vitreous of the eye. Intravitreal drug injections are used for treating various posterior segment diseases of the eye. Drugs such as Avastin and Lucentis are used to dry up bleeding and fluid from a choroidal neovascular membrane (CNV). CNVs are present in patients with advanced diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration.

Sources

Bubnova IA, Kurguzova AG. Izmeneniia urovnia VGD posle intravitreal’nykh in”ektsiĭ [Changes in intraocular pressure after intravitreal injections]. Vestn Oftalmol. 2018;134(4):47-51. Russian. doi: 10.17116/oftalma201813404147. PMID: 30166510.
Chan M P Y, Broadway D C, Khawaja A P, Yip J L Y, Garway-Heath D F, Burr J M et al. Glaucoma and intraocular pressure in EPIC-Norfolk Eye Study: cross sectional study. BMJ. 2017; 358 :j3889 doi:10.1136/bmj.j3889
Güell JL, Velasco F. Phakic intraocular lens implantation. Int Ophthalmol Clin. 2002 Fall;42(4):119-30. doi: 10.1097/00004397-200210000-00012. PMID: 12409927.
Rampat R, Gatinel D. Multifocal and Extended Depth-of-Focus Intraocular Lenses in 2020. Ophthalmology. 2021 Nov;128(11):e164-e185. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2020.09.026. Epub 2020 Sep 25. PMID: 32980397.
Sihota R, Angmo D, Ramaswamy D, Dada T. Simplifying “target” intraocular pressure for different stages of primary open-angle glaucoma and primary angle-closure glaucoma. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2018 Apr;66(4):495-505. doi: 10.4103/ijo.IJO_1130_17. PMID: 29582808; PMCID: PMC5892050.