Intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide in eyes with cystoid macular edema associated with central retinal vein occlusion.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate treatment of cystoid macular edema associated with central retinal vein occlusion with intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide.


METHODS
This study included 10 eyes of nine patients with perfused central retinal vein occlusion with visual acuity of 20/50 or worse. Following baseline evaluation, including best-corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), fluorescein angiography, and volumetric optical coherence tomography (VOCT), triamcinolone acetonide (4 mg in 0.1 ml) was injected into the vitreous cavity.


RESULTS
Mean duration from the time of diagnosis to the intravitreal injection was 15.4 months. All 10 eyes demonstrated biomicroscopic improvement in cystoid macular edema with corresponding improvement in VOCT measurements from a mean of 4.2 mm(3) preinjection to a mean of 2.6 mm(3) at last follow-up (P <.001). Mean best-corrected visual acuity improved from 58 letters (range, 37-72) at baseline to 78 letters (range, 50-100 letters) at last follow-up (average, 4.8 months). The visual acuity improvement was statistically significant (P =.01). Six eyes (60%) were > or =20/50. There were no significant complications. Three eyes (30%) without previous history of glaucoma required initiation of topical aqueous suppressant therapy for IOP elevation at last follow-up. One eye with a previous history of open-angle glaucoma required a trabeculectomy.


CONCLUSIONS
Intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide appears to be effective in reducing cystoid macular edema associated with central retinal vein occlusion. This reduction often corresponded to an improvement in visual acuity. Further evaluation is warranted to assess its safety and efficacy in these eyes.
Park
Carl H
CH
Duke University Eye Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA.
Jaffe
Glenn J
GJ
Fekrat
Sharon
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D007368:Interferometry; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000150:complications*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014054:Tomography; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014822:Vitreous Body
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide