Intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide in refractory pseudophakic cystoid macular edema: Functional and anatomic results

PURPOSE. To evaluate safety and efficacy of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (TAAC) injections in the treatment of refractory pseudophakic cystoid macular edema (CME). METHODS. Seven eyes of six patients (age range: 50-74) with pseudophakic CME resistant to standard treatment received intravitreal injections of 4 mg of TAAC with all vehicle. Mean preinjection duration of CME was 18.3 months. A mean of 2.1 +/- 1.2 (range 1 to 4) treatments were performed in four eyes (57.1%) when visual acuity deteriorated towards baseline levels. Visual acuity assessment, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and fluorescein angiography (FFA) were performed pre- and postoperatively to. evaluate results of TAAC injections. Intraocular pressure (IOP) and complications related to treatment were assessed. RESULTS. After 11.1 +/- 3.9 months, mean best-corrected visualacuity (BCVA) increased (P = 0.019) from 20/132 to a best value of 20/38. Mean macular thickness decreased from 517.29 +/- 146.98 mm to a best value of 263.71 +/- 83.13 mm (p = 0.0018). Area of fluorescein leakage decreased (p < 0.0001) from 11.84 +/- 0.93 mm(2) at baseline to a minimal value of 3.86 +/- 0.98 mm(2). The anatomic and functional improvement appeared after 1 month from the intravitreal injection and persisted through at least 3 months of follow-up. At the end of follow-up BCVA, macular thickness, and area of fluorescein leakage did not differ from baseline. Four eyes (57.1%) developed IOP values higher than 21 mmHg, controlled by topical treatment. Two patients developed an endophthalmitis-like reaction. CONCLUSIONS. Intravitreal TAAC was relatively safe and effective in resistant cases of pseudophakic CME with a temporary beneficial effect on visual acuity and macular edema.