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.
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.
Hirano
Yoshio
Y
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan. yossyeye@med.nagoya-cu.ac.jp
Sakurai
Eiji
E
Yoshida
Munenori
M
Ogura
Yuichiro
Y
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
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide