Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To report on visual outcome of patients receiving intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide for treatment of exudative age–related macular degeneration Methods: The interventional prospective comparative non–randomised clincial trial included 20 consecutive patients (20 eyes) with bilateral exudative age–related macular degeneration. An unilateral intravitreal injection of about 20 mg triamcinolone acetonide was performed into the eye (study group) more severely affected or showing more pronounced progression of the disease. The contralateral eyes served as control group. Mean follow–up was 13.5 ± 4.1 months (3.6 – 34.6 months). Main outcome measures were visual acuity and intraocular pressure. Results: In the study group, visual acuity increased significantly (p<0.001) from 0.14 ± 0.10 (0.96 ± 0.32 logMar) to a mean maximum of 0.22 ± 0.13 (0.76 ± 0.30 logMar) during follow–up. An increase in best visual acuity during follow–up was found in 18 (90%) eyes. In 11 (55%) eyes, best visual acuity increased by at least two Snellen lines. In the control group, visual acuity at baseline and the highest visual acuity measurements during follow–up did not vary significantly (0.34 ± 0.25 versus 0.35 ± 0.26; p=0.90). In 5 (25%) eyes, best visual acuity increased by at least two Snellen lines. During follow–up, visual acuity decreased significantly (p=0.005) towards the end of the follow–up. Comparing study group and control group, gain in visual acuity was significantly (p=0.003) higher in the study group. Correspondingly, number of eyes with an increase in visual acuity was significantly (p=0.002) higher in the study group.Conclusions: Intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide may temporarily increase visual acuity in eyes with exudative age–related macular degeneration
Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • macula/fovea • neovascularization