Vitrectomy alone versus vitrectomy with simultaneous intravitreal injection of triamcinolone for macular edema associated with branch retinal vein occlusion.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of vitrectomy with simultaneous intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide for macular edema associated with branch retinal vein occlusion.


METHODS
A retrospective study of 45 eyes with macular edema associated with branch retinal vein occlusion. A posterior vitreous detachment was created and the vitreous cortex was completely removed, after which 23 eyes immediately had an intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide (triamcinolone acetonide group) and 22 eyes did not (no triamcinolone acetonide group). Visual acuity, fluorescein angiograms, and foveal thickness determined by optical coherence tomography were examined preoperatively and postoperatively.


RESULTS
Mean postoperative visual acuity at 12 months was significantly better than the preoperative visual acuity in both groups. The fovea was significantly thinner 1 month postoperatively in both groups. Foveal thickness gradually decreased until 12 months in the no triamcinolone acetonide group; however, foveal thickness increased for 12 months in the triamcinolone acetonide group. A recurrence of macular edema was more frequent in the triamcinolone acetonide group than in the no triamcinolone acetonide group (P = .006).


CONCLUSIONS
Because there was no significant difference in the improvement of best-corrected visual acuity between the groups 12 months postoperatively, there may be no benefit in the use of intraoperative intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide.
Uemura
Akihiro
A
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan.
Yamamoto
Shuichi
S
Sato
Eiju
E
Sugawara
Takeshi
T
Mitamura
Yoshinori
Y
Mizunoya
Satoshi
S
D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D014821:Vitrectomy; D014822:Vitreous Body
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide