How Many Anti-VEGF Eye Injections Are Needed? | Retina Specialist in Varanasi

How Many Eye Injections Will I Need? A Retina Specialist from Varanasi Answers

By Dr. Shantanu Kumar Gupta Cataract Surgeon & Medical Retina Specialist Shantanu Netralaya, Varanasi

"Doctor Saab... Kitne Injection Lagenge?"

Almost every day at Shantanu Netralaya, I meet patients who have travelled not only from Varanasi but also from Jaunpur, Ghazipur, Chandauli, Mirzapur, Bhadohi, Sonbhadra and nearby districts of Bihar.

Many of them have already visited one or two doctors before coming to us.

After I examine their eyes and explain that they need a retinal injection, there is usually a moment of silence.

Then someone asks the question I hear almost every single day.

Sometimes it is the patient.

Sometimes it is their son or daughter.

Sometimes it is the elderly patient's wife who has been quietly listening throughout the consultation.

The question is always the same.

"Doctor saab... kitne injection lagenge?"

Whenever I hear this, I smile.

Because I know what they are really asking is not about the number of injections.

They are asking...

"Doctor, will my eyesight be saved?"

And that is the question that truly matters.

First of All—Don't Be Afraid of the Injection

I understand that hearing the words "eye injection" can be frightening.

Many patients immediately say,

"Doctor saab, aankh mein injection? Bahut dard hoga?"

The fear is natural.

After all, very few people ever imagine they might one day need an injection in the eye.

The good news is that before giving the injection, we numb the eye thoroughly with anaesthetic drops.

Most patients later tell me,

"Doctor saab, humne toh socha tha bahut dard hoga... lekin itna bhi nahi tha."

Seeing their relief reminds me why spending a few extra minutes explaining the procedure is so important.

So... How Many Injections Will You Need?

The truthful answer is...

I don't know on the very first day.

And I say this honestly to every patient.

Not because I am uncertain about your disease.

But because your retina decides the treatment—not the calendar.

Every eye is different.

Even two people with diabetes sitting next to each other may need completely different treatment plans.

One patient may improve quickly.

Another may require treatment for a longer period.

That is why I never believe in giving every patient the same answer.

Think of It Like Diabetes or High Blood Pressure

If someone asks a physician,

"Doctor, how many diabetes tablets will I need?"

Can anyone honestly answer that on the first day?

Of course not.

The medicines are adjusted according to your sugar levels.

Retina treatment works in much the same way.

After every injection, we carefully examine your retina and review your OCT scan.

If the swelling has settled, we may safely increase the interval before the next visit.

If the disease is still active, we continue treatment because protecting your eyesight is our priority.

Why Do Diabetic Patients Often Need More Than One Injection?

One of the commonest reasons I give retinal injections is diabetic macular edema, where diabetes causes swelling at the centre of the retina.

Many patients tell me,

"Doctor saab, hum toh samajh rahe the motiyabind hai."

But when we perform an OCT scan, we discover that diabetes—not cataract—is responsible for the blurred vision.

This is why every diabetic patient should have regular retinal examinations, even if they think their eyesight is "more or less okay."

Early treatment almost always gives us a better chance of preserving vision.

What If I Have a Retinal Vein Blockage?

Patients with a retinal vein blockage often ask the same question.

The answer remains the same.

Some eyes recover quickly.

Others need longer treatment.

The number of injections depends on how your retina responds—not on what another patient needed.

No two retinal diseases behave exactly alike.

"Doctor, My Neighbour Needed Only Three Injections..."

This is another conversation I have almost every week.

Someone says,

"Hamare padosi ko sirf teen injection lage the."

I always explain gently,

Your neighbour's retina is not your retina.

Your diabetes is not their diabetes.

Your OCT scan is different.

Your vision is different.

So naturally, your treatment may also be different.

Medicine is never one-size-fits-all.

Why Do I Recommend an OCT Scan at Every Visit?

Some patients laugh and say,

"Doctor saab, har baar OCT karwana padta hai!"

Yes—and there is a very good reason.

The OCT scan lets us see tiny amounts of swelling inside the retina long before they affect your vision.

It helps us answer questions like:

Is the medicine working? Has the swelling completely gone? Can we safely wait before the next injection? Is another injection still needed?

Without an OCT scan, deciding treatment would be like driving at night without headlights.

Please Don't Stop Coming Just Because You Feel Better

This is probably the most important message I want every patient to remember.

Sometimes, after one or two injections, vision improves.

Patients feel happy—and naturally so.

But then they miss the next appointment because they think everything is fine.

Unfortunately, retinal diseases do not always give an early warning when they become active again.

By the time the vision starts decreasing, valuable retinal tissue may already have been damaged.

That is why I tell every patient before they leave my clinic:

"Please don't judge your retina by how you feel. Let us judge it by examining your eye."

My Promise to Every Patient

One thing I can promise you is this.

At Shantanu Netralaya, I will never recommend an injection simply because it is part of a routine.

If your retina needs an injection, I will explain why.

If your retina does not need one, I will tell you that as well.

Every decision is based on:

Your symptoms Your retinal examination Your OCT scan Scientific evidence What is genuinely best for your eyesight

If I were treating my own parents or another member of my family, I would make exactly the same recommendation.

That is the standard of care I believe every patient deserves.

A Final Word

If you have diabetes, blurred vision, a retinal vein blockage, or have been advised an eye injection, don't let fear stop you from seeking treatment.

The question is not whether you will need one injection or five.

The real question is:

"What is the best plan to protect my eyesight for the years ahead?"

That is the conversation we will have together.

Because numbers matter far less than preserving your vision.

And that is our goal—every single day.

About Dr. Shantanu Kumar Gupta

Dr. Shantanu Kumar Gupta is a Cataract Surgeon and Medical Retina Specialist at Shantanu Netralaya, Varanasi. He specializes in diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusions, macular diseases, retinal laser treatment, OCT-guided management, and intravitreal anti-VEGF injections. Patients from Varanasi and across Purvanchal consult him for ethical, evidence-based retina care delivered with a personal, family-centered approach.