Medical Retina & Retina Injections in Varanasi
OCT-guided diagnosis. Evidence-based treatment. Same-day injections when needed.
OCT / OCT-A imaging on the same visit as your consult
Diabetic retinopathy screening & laser + injection protocols
Wet AMD, retinal vein occlusion (RVO), central serous retinopathy
Anti-VEGF injections given in a sterile in-office setting
MBBS · MS Ophthalmology (MAMC, New Delhi) · DNB · FICO (Merit, ICO)
The retina is the most fragile — and most under-diagnosed — part of the eye. In eastern Uttar Pradesh, undetected diabetic retinopathy remains a leading cause of preventable adult blindness. At Shantanu Netralaya, every retina consult begins with high-resolution OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) so that we see, and show you, the exact layer of retina involved — before any treatment plan is proposed.
Conditions we manage
Diabetic retinopathy (all stages, including macular edema) · Age-related macular degeneration (dry and wet, with anti-VEGF therapy) · Retinal vein occlusion (central and branch) · Central serous retinopathy · Vitreo-retinal follow-up after surgery elsewhere · Second-opinion review of retina reports from other centres.
Retina injections — what to expect
Anti-VEGF intravitreal injections are performed in a sterile procedure room using topical anaesthesia. The whole visit — check-in, dilation, OCT, counselling, injection, post-injection review — typically takes 90 minutes. You resume most normal activity the same evening. Follow-up is scheduled at 4 weeks by default and adjusted per response.
retina specialist Varanasi — patient FAQs
Do I need a referral for a retina consult in Varanasi?+
No referral is needed. You can walk in with any recent reports (OCT, blood-sugar / HbA1c, prior prescriptions) — we will review them and, if needed, repeat any imaging on the same visit.
How many retina injections will I need?+
Wet AMD, diabetic macular edema and RVO typically respond over a series of 3 monthly loading doses followed by an as-needed maintenance schedule. You get a written plan after your first OCT — no open-ended commitments.
40, Deen Dayal Colony, Kabir Nagar Road, Near Durgakund, Varanasi 221005
Plus Code: 7XRW+32 Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
The procedure, in the order it happens
- 1OCT-guided assessment
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) captures a cross-section of your retina in seconds, quantifying macular thickness, oedema and any bleeding.
- 2Fundus photography + FFA (if indicated)
Wide-field colour fundus photographs document the retinal periphery. Fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) traces blood flow to identify leakage points in diabetic retinopathy or wet AMD.
- 3Treatment planning
Based on OCT + FFA, we plan the treatment: anti-VEGF intravitreal injections (Lucentis, Avastin, Eylea, Razumab), pan-retinal photocoagulation (PRP) laser, or focal / grid laser for macular oedema.
- 4Anti-VEGF injection (~2 minutes)
The eye is numbed with topical anaesthetic drops. A single tiny injection is delivered through the pars plana under sterile conditions. You go home within 30 minutes.
- 5Follow-up review
Repeat OCT at 4 weeks to assess response. Most patients need 3 monthly injections in the loading phase, then a maintenance schedule tailored to their disease pattern.
Anti-VEGF injection options
| Drug | Best for | Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Ranibizumab (Lucentis) | Wet AMD, diabetic macular oedema, RVO | Cashless with most policies |
| Bevacizumab (Avastin — off-label) | Same indications as ranibizumab | Off-label but widely used in India |
| Aflibercept (Eylea) | Recalcitrant DME / AMD; longer duration between injections | Cashless with premium policies |
| Razumab (biosimilar ranibizumab) | Same as Lucentis, Indian biosimilar | Cashless with most policies |
What happens Day 1 to Week 6
Mild grittiness for a few hours. Vision may be slightly hazy from the antiseptic — clears by evening.
Any small red spot on the eye at the injection site settles on its own. No activity restriction.
Repeat OCT to measure treatment response. Decision on whether to inject again.
Most patients need a monthly injection for 3 months (loading), then either monthly or per-need thereafter.
Things patients often get wrong
Isn't an injection into the eye extremely painful?+
No. The eye is fully numbed with drops. Patients feel a light pressure sensation only, not pain.
Will I need injections forever?+
Not necessarily. Many patients transition from monthly to every 2-3 months once the disease is stable. Some can eventually stop with careful monitoring.
Can retina disease be reversed with diet or supplements?+
Established diabetic retinopathy or AMD cannot be reversed by diet alone. But glycaemic control, blood-pressure control and AREDS-2 supplements (for AMD) genuinely slow progression.
Honest counsel — when to pause, treat elsewhere, or defer
- Very early diabetic retinopathy without macular oedema — observation with 6-monthly OCT is safer than pre-emptive treatment.
- Advanced disease with irreversible foveal scarring — injections may not restore vision; counsel the patient honestly.
What's covered, what's not
Anti-VEGF injections are covered under most cashless private insurance policies and PM-JAY within applicable limits. A written estimate is shared with you before every injection so there are no surprises. The choice of molecule is made on clinical grounds — response, disease type and dosing frequency — and discussed with you in detail at consultation.
Related reading on retina specialist Varanasi
Anti-VEGF injections are the single biggest advance in retinal medicine. Yet myths persist.
डायबिटीज़ रेटिना को बिना किसी शुरुआती लक्षण के नुकसान पहुँचा सकती है। इसलिए यदि आपकी दृष्टि सामान्य भी है, तब भी हर वर्ष रेटिना की जांच करवाना आवश्यक है ताकि डायबिटिक रेटिनोपैथी का समय रहते पता लगाकर इलाज किया जा सके।
रेटिना इंजेक्शन क्यों लगाए जाते हैं? जानिए Anti-VEGF injections कैसे diabetic macular edema, retinal vein occlusion और wet AMD जैसी retinal diseases में vision बचाने और सुधारने में मदद करते हैं।