Intraocular triamcinolone for diffuse diabetic macular edema

Background. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of an intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide on the visual acuity of patients suffering from diffuse diabetic macular edema. Patients and methods. The prospective, clinically interventional, uncontrolled study included 32 eyes (26 patients) with diffuse diabetic macular edema and received an intravitreal injection of 25 mg triamcinolone acetonide. Visual acuity was 0.12 +/- 0.08 (min.-max.0.03-0.3; median 0.1) at baseline. Mean follow-up was 6.8+/-4.3 months. Results. Visual acuity increased to 0.1 7 0.1 1 (min.-max.: 0.03-0.4; median 0.125) after 4 weeks (P=0.009) and reached a mean maximum of 0.20+/-0.14 (min.-max.: 0.03-0.5; median 0.16) after 8 weeks (p=0.006). Later, visual acuity showed a slow decrease, but was significantly higher than at baseline up to 6 months postoperatively and 26 eyes (81.3%) gained in visual acuity. Ten eyes (31.2%) developed steroid-induced secondary ocular hypertension. Conclusion. An intravitreal injection of 25 mg of triamcinolone acetonide may be an option in the treatment of diffuse diabetic macular edema.