Abstract
Purpose: :
To determine the effects of intravitreal triamcinolone in presence of pigment epithelial detachments (PED) secondary to occult choroidal neovascularisation in age–related macular degeneration (AMD) by means of fundus controlled static threshold microperimetry.
Methods: :
10 patients (mean age 73.5 ± 4.6 years) with PEDs due to AMD were treated with intravitreal triamcinolone (4 mg). Patients were investigated by means of optical coherence tomography (OCT 3, Zeiss), digital fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography and fundus autofluorescence imaging. Retinal sensitivity was measured using fundus controlled static threshold microperimetry of the macula with the MP1 (Nidek, Italy). All of these examinations were obtained before and six weeks after treatment.
Results: :
In our analysis retinal thickness decreased significantly from from 888 ± 184 µm before to 462 ± 304 µm (p=0.043) associated with an increase in mean visual acuity from 20/63 (0,50 ± 0,16 logMAR) before to 20/50 (0,40 ± 0,19 logMAR) six weeks after treatment (p=0.041). Furthermore an instable fixation pattern could be stabilized in 4 patients whereas there was only a slight increase of mean light increment sensitivity in microperimetry over the PED from 4.6 ± 2.5 dB before to 6.4 ± 3.9 dB six weeks after treatment.There was no significant increase in intraocular pressure after treatment (p=0.236).
Conclusions: :
These data indicate a positive effect of intravitreal triamcinolone on retinal sensitivity in presence of PEDs secondary to AMD. Longterm studies will be necessary to determine the duration of the effect and a possible on–off–phenomenon.
Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: treatment/prevention assessment/controlled clinical trials • perimetry