Vitrectomy as a treatment for elevated intraocular pressure following intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide

PURPOSE: To report control of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide-induced elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) by vitrectomy-assisted corticosteroid removal. DESIGN: Interventional case series. METHODS: Of the 26 eyes that had intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide for various causes, 11 eyes (42.5%) developed elevated IOP. In nine eyes IOP was controlled by antiglaucoma medication. Two eyes of two patients developed uncontrolled IOP despite maximal antiglaucoma medication. These eyes underwent vitrectomy and removal of triamcinolone acetonide. RESULTS: IOP returned to normal in 3 weeks and 1 week, respectively, after vitrectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated IOP associated with intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide that is not controlled by maximal antiglaucoma medication can be effectively treated by vitrectomy-assisted removal of triamcinolone acetonide. (C) 2004 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.