Abstract
Purpose::
To examine the efficacy of subtenon infusion of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) prior to a repeat photodynamic therapy (PDT) as a treatment for age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Methods::
Fifty-nine eyes of 59 patients with AMD with prior unsuccessful PDT were treated with PDT again. Twenty-one eyes were treated with PDT and a subtenon infusion of 12mg of TA, and 38 eyes were treated with PDT alone. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in logMAR units and foveal thickness (FT) determined by optical coherence tomography were examined before, and at 1 and 3 months after treatment.
Results::
In the TA-infused group, the mean BCVA was 1.02 before treatment, and 1.10 at 1 month, and 1.11 at 3 months after treatment. In the PDT-alone group, the mean VA was 0.99, 0.95, and 0.98 at the same times. There was no significant improvement of VA in both groups. In the TA-infused group, the mean FT was reduced to 84.8% of the pre-treatment value at 1 month, and 77.7% at 3 months after treatment. In the PDT-alone group, the mean FT was reduced to 85.0% at 1 month and 79.7% at 3 months after treatment. There was no significant difference in the reduction of FT between two groups. Two patients in the TA-infused group developed an intraocular pressure of >24 mmHg, which was treated with topical anti-glaucoma therapy.
Conclusions::
These findings indicate that there may be no benefit in the simultaneous subtenon infusion of TA with a repeat PDT for AMD.
Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • photodynamic therapy • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: treatment/prevention assessment/controlled clinical trials