Electron Microscopy of Needle Tips Following Intravitreal Injections Using 30-Gauge Needles

Ju-Young Kim; Jong-Hyuck Lee; Ie-Na Yoon

doi:10.3341/jkos.2010.51.7.949

Journal List > J Korean Ophthalmol Soc > v.51(7) > 1008858

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Kim, Lee, and Yoon: Electron Microscopy of Needle Tips Following Intravitreal Injections Using 30-Gauge Needles

Original Article

J Korean Ophthalmol Soc 2010;51(7):949-953.

Published online: 31 August 2010

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2010.51.7.949

Electron Microscopy of Needle Tips Following Intravitreal Injections Using 30-Gauge Needles

Ju-Young Kim, MD, Jong-Hyuck Lee, MD, PhD, Ie-Na Yoon, MD

Department of Ophthalmology, Wonju Christian Hospital, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea

Address reprint requests to Ie-na Yoon, MD, Department of Ophthalmology, Wonju Christian Hospital, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine #162 Ilsan-dong, Wonju 220-701, Korea Tel: 82-33-741-0632, Fax: 82-33-745-2965, E-mail: bswhitey@hanmail.net

Received 26 October 2009 Accepted 14 May 2010

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Purpose

To observe the degree of damage in a 30-gauge injection needle by observing the changes in needle tip following an intravitreal injection with the use of a scanning electron microscope.

Methods

The present study evaluated 11 injection needles collected following the use of an intravitreal injection of bevacizumab. Ten unused injection needles were selected as the control group. Needle examination was performed using a scanning electron microscope.

Results

Following 11 intravitreal injections, seven bent needle tips, two stubbed needle tips and two almost normal needle tips were observed following intravitreal injections. In the control group, a single damaged needle tip was observed.

Conclusions

Significant damage to the needle tip was observed following intravitreal injection using a 30-gauge injection needle. The results indicate that needles should be manipulated carefully during an intravitreal injection. Additionally, in the control group where no procedures were performed, a single injection needle with damaged status was found. These results indicate that needles should be replaced in cases in which resistance is perceived during the procedure.

Keywords: Intravitreal injection, Needle tip, Electron microscope

References

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Figure 1.

Bent needle tip, needle point off-center after intravitreal bevacizumab injection (×500).

Figure 2.

Stubbed and malformed needle tip after intravitreal bevacizumab injection (×500).

Figure 3.

Almost normal needle tip after intravitreal bevacizumab injection (×500).

Figure 4.

Bent needle tip, needle point off-center (control group) (X500).

Figure 5.

Normal needle tip (control group) (×500).

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