Ocular complications after a sub-tenon injection of triamcinolone acetonide for uveitis.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the complications of a sub-Tenon injection of triamcinolone acetonide in patients with uveitis.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the records of uveitis cases treated from 1999 to 2003 in Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. Thirty patients (45 eyes), who received a sub-Tenon injection of 0.5 ml of a triamcinolone acetonide suspension for uveitis control, were included, and 16 (26 eyes) of these patients underwent intraocular pressure (IOP) monitoring for over 3 months after the procedure.


RESULTS
The incidence of ocular penetration was 1.6% and of rapidly progressive cataracts was 13.3%. The incidence of ocular hypertension (>21 mmHg) was 76.9% (20/26). The ocular hypertension in most cases was controlled with topical medications, with recovery of normal IOP. Long-term topical antiglaucoma medication was given for 3 eyes, and another 3 eyes (11.5%) received a trabeculectomy performed by glaucoma specialists. The incidence of glaucoma during the follow-up period after treatment is 23.1% (6/26).


CONCLUSIONS
The 23.1% incidence of glaucoma in this study is higher than expected. Careful pretreatment evaluation and post-treatment monitoring of IOP are mandatory for patients with uveitis receiving a sub-Tenon injection of triamcinolone acetonide.
Kuo
Hsi-Kung
HK
Department of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan 833, ROC.
Lai
Ing-Chou
IC
Fang
Po-Chiung
PC
Teng
Mei-Ching
MC
D005901:Glaucoma / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014221:Triamcinolone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014605:Uveitis / Q000188:drug therapy*
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D014221:Triamcinolone