The effect of intravitreal triamcinolone on foveal edema in exudative macular degeneration.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of a single intravitreal injection of triamcinolone (IVTA) on central macular thickness and visual acuity in eyes with minimally classic exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD).


METHODS
Retrospective, nonrandomized clinical interventional study.


METHODS
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and best-corrected logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity were performed at baseline and one month after treatment.


RESULTS
We identified 11 eyes with foveal edema and minimally classic subfoveal neovascularization treated with an IVTA. Foveal edema decreased significantly from 401 +/- 98 microm at baseline to 295 +/- 141 microm (mean +/- standard deviation; P = .004) at one month. There was, however, no significant change in visual acuity at one or three months after the intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
This biological effect of IVTA does not support its clinical use, yet it does warrant further research to determine whether locally delivered corticosteroids may be synergistic with other treatments. Reduction in foveal edema is not necessarily associated with improved visual function in exudative AMD.
Gillies
Mark C
MC
Department of Clinical Ophthalmology, Save Sight Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia. mark@eye.usyd.edu.au
Larsson
Jorgen
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005584:Fovea Centralis; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014822:Vitreous Body
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide