Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To investigate visual acuity and optical coherence tomographic outcomes, and adverse events, associated with intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection(s) for macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). Methods: Retrospective, non–comparative, interventional, consecutive case series. Records were reviewed of all patients treated for macular edema secondary to BRVO with intravitreal injection(s) of triamcinolone acetonide (4mg/0.1cc) by 1 of 3 vitreoretinal surgeons between January 2001 and April 2003. Results: The study included 19 eyes of 19 patients with a median follow–up of 6 months. Median visual acuity was 20/300 pre–treatment (n=19) compared to 20/70 at 1 month (p=.001; n=17); 20/60 at 3 months (p=.003; n=13); 20/60 at 6 months (p=.012; n=10); and 20/135 (p=.66; n=4) at 1 year. Acuity improved by halving of the visual angle in 12/17 eyes at 1 month, 9/13 at 3 months, 6/10 at 6 months, and 1/4 at 1 year. Mean foveal thickness was 465µm at baseline, compared to 267µm at 1 month (p<.001); 261µm at 3 months (p<.001); 321µm at 6 months (p=.002); and 340µm (p=.31) at 1 year. The probability of a second injection was 52% by 6 months and 68% by 1 year. An intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation >10 mmHg compared to pre–injection occurred in 2/17 patients at 1 month, 3/13 at 3 months, 0/10 at 6 months, and 0/4 at 1 year. Elevated IOP was controlled with medications in all cases. Conclusions: Intravitreal triamcinolone was associated with improved visual acuity and decreased macular edema in most patients; these changes may be transient.
Keywords: vascular occlusion/vascular occlusive disease • retina • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: outcomes/complications