Effective communication strategies in intravitreal therapy: How to listen and how to talk to people who need injections in their eyes

Summary

Review Intravitreal therapy: Effective communication strategies, and how to listen and talk to people who need injections in their eyes.

Abstract

Effective communication between patients and their ophthalmologists is a key determinant of long-term success in intravitreal therapy (IVT). Because patients must accept repeated invasive procedures and frequent visits, understanding, trust, and sustained adherence are essential. In contemporary IVT services, all members of the ophthalmology team contribute substantially to information transfer, reassurance, and continuity of care. This narrative review summarizes practical, therapy-specific communication strategies tailored to the needs and challenges of patients receiving repeated IVT. It translates established communication principles into concrete guidance for ophthalmologists and their teams, with a particular focus on strengthening the ophthalmologist-patient partnership in IVT. We outline typical stages of the IVT care trajectory, from diagnosis and the first injection through long-term follow-up, treatment fatigue, and potential discontinuation, and link each stage to distinct communication tasks. Building on models of patient-centered communication and shared decision-making, we describe how to explain the chronic nature of disease, prepare patients for the procedure, address fears and misconceptions about injections, and set realistic expectations regarding visual outcomes and treatment burden. We highlight how structured consultations, clear and jargon-free language, visual aids, and coordinated teamwork in the ophthalmology service can support understanding, trust, and adherence. Specific attention is given to assessing decision-making capacity, involving relatives or legal representatives, navigating best-interest decisions in patients with dementia or learning disabilities, and discussing non-response as well as switching or stopping therapy in older, comorbid patients. Throughout, we integrate evidence on adherence and persistence in IVT and illustrate how communication can mitigate common reasons for non-adherence. The review provides concrete, IVT-specific communication guidance intended to strengthen the ophthalmologist-patient relationship and supports sustained engagement in care.