The Intravitreal Application of Triamcinolone in the Treatment of the Macular Edema

Overview

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of intravitreal application of triamcinolone in macular edema of different etiology. In this prospective study, 20 eyes were evaluated: 12 with diabetic macular edema, 6 with macular edema due to venous occlusion, 1 with pseudophakic cystoid macular edema, and 1 with cystoid macular edema in case of uveitis. Four milligrams of tramcinolon acetonide were injected in to the vitreous cavity. Before and in one month intervals after the application, the intraocular pressure was measured, visual acuity on the ETDRS optotypes was established, the macula was examined biomicroscopically, examination of the photography of the fundus was performed, and macular thickness was measured by means of optical coherence tomography. The follow-up period was 3 months. The mean visual acuity was 0.16 at the beginning of the study, 1 month after the application 0.32, and after 3 months 0.31. The mean thickness of the macula decreased from the initial value 537 μm by 249 μm after one month (improvement by 46.6 %) and by 203 μm after three month (improvement by 39.7 %). As a complication, the elevation of the intraocular pressure was noticed in 20 % of eyes, and this was compensated in all cases by means of local therapy. The intravitreal injection of triamcinolon seems to be a promising part of treatment of the macular edema of different origin.

Key words:
macular edema, triamcinolon, visual acuity, optical coherence tomography