Coring of Intravitreal Medication Vial Stoppers: A Report From the Research and Safety in Therapeutics Committee of the American Society of Retina Specialists

ASRS’s Journal of Vitreoretinal Diseases (JVRD) Author’s Forum

On this episode of the JVRD Author's Forum podcast, Dr. Ivan Suñer of Retina Associates of Florida discusses "Coring of Intravitreal Medication Vial Stoppers: A Report from the REST Committee," published in the September/October 2025 issue of the Journal of VitreoRetinal Diseases.

Host Dr. Timothy Murray and Dr. Suñer review how vigilant ASRS members reported unusual black material in medication vials that was initially suspected to be fungal contamination but was identified as rubber stopper fragments—a phenomenon known as coring. Hear how factors like blunt needles, large bore sizes, and thick rubber stoppers increase coring risk, why this issue is well-documented in anesthesia literature but new to ophthalmology, and what preventive measures—including visual inspection of vials before and after drawing medication, using filter needles, and preferring prefilled syringes—can protect patient safety during intravitreal injections.

For more information, visit www.ASRS.org/JVRDForum.
Welcome to ASRS’s Journal of Vitreoretinal Diseases (JVRD) Author’s Forum. JVRD is the official scientific peer-reviewed journal of the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS), offering the highest quality and most impactful research and clinical information in the field. Join host Dr. Timothy Murray, Editor-in-Chief of JVRD, as he discusses cutting-edge developments featured in JVRD with the lead authors, who share clinical pearls and explore their significance in advancing patient care.