title: Intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide in refractory pseudophakic cystoid macular edema: functional and anatomic results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate safety and efficacy of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (TAAC) injections in the treatment of refractory pseudophakic cystoid macular edema (CME).
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven eyes of six patients (age range: 50-74) with pseudophakic CME resistant to standard treatment received intravitreal injections of 4 mg of TAAC with all vehicle. Mean preinjection duration of CME was 18.3 months. A mean of 2.1+/-1.2 (range 1 to 4) treatments were performed in four eyes (57.1 %) when visual acuity deteriorated towards baseline levels. Visual acuity assessment, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and fluorescein angiography (FFA) were performed pre- and postoperatively to evaluate results of TAAC injections. Intraocular pressure (IOP) and complications related to treatment were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 11.1+/-3.9 months, mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) increased (p =0.019) from 20/132 to a best value of 20/38. Mean macular thickness decreased from 517.29+/-146.98 mm to a best value of 263.71+/-83.13 mm (p=0.0018). Area of fluorescein leakage decreased (p<0.0001) from 11.84+/-0.93 mm2 at baseline to a minimal value of 3.86+/-0.98 mm2. The anatomic and functional improvement appeared after 1 month from the intravitreal injection and persisted through at least 3 months of follow-up. At the end of follow-up BCVA, macular thickness, and area of fluorescein leakage did not differ from baseline. Four eyes (57.1 %) developed IOP values higher than 21 mmHg, controlled by topical treatment. Two patients developed an endophthalmitis-like reaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intravitreal TAAC was relatively safe and effective in resistant cases of pseudophakic CME with a temporary beneficial effect on visual acuity and macular edema.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Otorhinolaryngology, University of Bari, Bari - Italy. francescoboscia@hotmail.com
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Boscia
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Furino
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dammacco
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferreri
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sborgia
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sborgia
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019591:Pseudophakia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012449:Safety; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014822:Vitreous Body
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide