Intravitreal triamcinolone for refractory pseudophakic macular edema.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of intravitreal triamcinolone in refractory pseudophakic cystoid macular edema.


METHODS
A prospective, interventional case series.


METHODS
Three eyes of three patients with longstanding pseudophakic cystoid macular edema following uncomplicated cataract surgery, refractory to any medication, were treated with 8 mg of intravitreal triamcinolone. All three eyes were evaluated before injection and throughout follow-up with the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study's visual acuity chart, fluorescein angiography, and macular mapping using optical coherence tomography.


RESULTS
A month after intravitreal triamcinolone injection, a dramatic decrease in macular thickness was noted by optical coherence tomography in all three eyes (from a mean of 502-233 microm). Mean improvement in visual acuity was 3.7 Snellen lines. Two to 4 months after triamcinolone injection, however, the edema recurred in all cases, to the same degree as before the injection, combined with a decrease in vision. Two eyes underwent a second injection of triamcinolone, and macular thickness decreased, but the edema again recurred 3 months after injection.


CONCLUSIONS
Intravitreal injection of triamcinolone induces striking regression, within 1 month, of chronic refractory macular edema. This regression appears to be transient, however, even after a second injection.
Benhamou
Nathanael
N
Department of Ophthalmology, Hôpital Lariboisière, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris 7, Paris, France. nathanael_benhamou@yahoo.fr
Massin
Pascale
P
Haouchine
Belkacem
B
Audren
Francois
F
Tadayoni
Ramin
R
Gaudric
Alain
A
D000368:Aged; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D007368:Interferometry; D008027:Light; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019591:Pseudophakia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D014054:Tomography; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014822:Vitreous Body
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide