Intravitreal triamcinolone injection for treatment of macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of intravitreal triamcinolone injection in eyes with macular edema due to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) over a 2-year period.


METHODS
The authors performed a retrospective chart review of 13 eyes of 13 patients (mean age 68 years) who underwent intravitreal injections with 4 mg triamcinolone acetonide for macular edema due to BRVO. Six eyes received a single injection. Repeated injections were performed in one eye twice, four eyes three times, and two eyes four times. Mean follow-up was 13 months (range, 4 to 24). The time between the onset of symptoms and the injection averaged 7.4 months (range, 2 to 24).


RESULTS
Mean postinjection central foveal thickness decreased to 56% of preinjection values (529 mum versus 295 mum, P < 0 .001). Final visual acuity improved in seven eyes (range 2 to 6 Snellen lines), remained the same in four eyes (range 0 to 1 Snellen lines), and worsened in two eyes (range -1 to -4 Snellen lines) compared to baseline. The retinal thickness decreased in all cases; vision improved in most cases. As the number of injections increased cataractous changes increased. Visual acuity improvement was significantly correlated with patient age (P = 0.026). Eight patients developed steroid induced ocular hypertension controlled by topical medication. Cataract extraction was judged to aggravate macular edema in three of the five eyes undergoing surgery, based upon optical coherence tomography or fluorescein angiography. Median best postinjection visual acuity (20/50) was significantly better than that of baseline (20/100) (P = 0.028) as well as last follow-up (20/70) (P = 0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
Intravitreal triamcinolone should be further evaluated as a treatment option for macular edema associated with BRVO.
Cekiç
Osman
O
From the Department of Ophthalmology, College of Surgeons and Physicians of Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA. ocekic@hotmail.com
Chang
Stanley
S
Tseng
Joseph J
JJ
Barile
Gaetano R
GR
Del Priore
Lucian V
LV
Weissman
Harold
H
Schiff
William M
WM
Ober
Michael D
MD
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002386:Cataract / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced; D012008:Recurrence; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014822:Vitreous Body
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide