title: Comparative study on efficacy of a combination therapy of triamcinolone acetonide administration with and without vitrectomy for macular edema associated with branch retinal vein occlusion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy ofa combination therapy of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) administration with and without vitrectomy in eyes with macular edema associated with branch retinal vein occlusion over a 1-year period.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective, case-control study was conducted in 15 eyes of 15 patients with macular edema associated with branch retinal vein occlusion. Eight eyes underwent simultaneous intravitreal and posterior sub-Tenon capsule injections of TA (TA-injected group). Seven eyes underwent vitrectomy with intravitreal or simultaneous posterior sub-Tenon capsule injection of TA (vitrectomy with TA group). Macular thickness and visual acuity were measured before and at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after the therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve months after the therapy, mean visual acuity improved significantly from baseline in both the TA-injected (p = 0.0069) and vitrectomy with TA groups (p = 0.0145). Macular thickness also improved significantly in both the TA-injected (p = 0.0065) and vitrectomy with TA groups (p = 0.0058). At 12 months after the therapy, there was no significant difference in visual acuity and macular thickness between the two groups (p = 0.3308 and 0.3711, respectively). At the early postoperative stage (1 and 3 months after the therapy), the central macular thickness in the TA-injected group was significantly less than that in the vitrectomy with TA group (p = 0.0140 and 0.0275, respectively); there was no significant difference in visual acuity between the two groups (p = 0.0796 and 0.3753, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TA injection without vitrectomy was as effective as a combination therapy of TA injection with vitrectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan. yossyeye@med.nagoya-cu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hirano
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sakurai
authors.forename: Munenori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Yuichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ogura
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000473:pathology; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000150:complications*; D019233:Retreatment; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014821:Vitrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D014822:Vitreous Body
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide