Using ice therapy to reduce pain during eye injections

Topical Ice-therapy for Pain Modulation During Intravitreal Injections: A Prospective Randomized Control Trial

Not applicable Interventional University of Minnesota · NCT05269823

This study is testing if using ice therapy can help reduce pain for patients getting eye injections.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment250 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Minnesota Academic / other
Locations1 site (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Trial IDNCT05269823 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study investigates the effectiveness of topical ice-therapy in reducing pain experienced by patients receiving intravitreal anti-VEGF injections. Patients will be treated with either ice-therapy or no ice-therapy prior to the injection, and their pain levels will be assessed. The goal is to determine if the application of ice can significantly improve the patient experience during this common ophthalmic procedure.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include adults aged 18 or older who require an anti-VEGF intravitreal injection as determined by a retina specialist.

Not a fit: Patients who do not require intravitreal injections or are under 18 years old may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to a more comfortable experience for patients undergoing intravitreal injections.

How similar studies have performed: While there may be limited studies specifically on ice-therapy for this purpose, similar approaches in pain management have shown promise in other medical settings.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* All patients aged 18 or older evaluated by a single retina specialist at the University of Minnesota Department of Ophthalmology with a clinical indication necessitating an anti-VEGF intravitreal injection

Exclusion Criteria:

* N/A

Where this trial is running

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions AnesthesiaHypothermiaInjection Site Irritation
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.