THE THOUGHT of having an injection in your eye sounds like the stuff of horror movies. But that's what has to happen to help those suffering from macular degeneration, retinal vein occlusions, and diabetic macular disease.

n the past six months, more than 3,000 eye injections were given to patients at Royal Bournemouth Hospital, around 128 every week. However, says the hospital, many patients are anxious about having the injections, and some are so worried they choose not to attend their appointments.

Now staff have produced a film to reassure patients who are due to have an injection in the eye. The idea was the brainwave of Anne-Marie Lacey, an advanced nurse practitioner at RBH.

“We felt it was important to make the video as it’s a procedure our patients often feel anxious about," she said. "We wanted to support them and provide information to put them at ease.”

The seven minute film follows a typical patient journey, including the staff you might meet, what happens during the procedure and what to expect afterwards, as well as accounts from a number of patients.

Margaret Hines, one of the patients who appears in the film, said: “The thought of having a needle inserted in your eye is very daunting but the whole procedure is very quick and is carried out by specially trained staff.”

Fellow patient Kathleen McCallam added: “The staff are wonderful and put you at ease.”

Dr Owen Anderson, consultant ophthalmologist at RBH, said the film provides useful information to make patients feel less worried. “It’s the best treatment available and we do everything we can to make it as comfortable as possible,” he said.

  • Don't believe them? Watch the movie here: www.rbch.nhs.uk/index.php?id=854