The effect of intravitreal triamcinolone on diabetic macular oedema

Diabetic macular oedema is a frequent cause of visual loss in patients with diabetic retinopathy. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide in reducing diabetic macular oedema and improving visual acuity.

In this prospective study 12 eyes of 12 patients with diabetic macular oedema unresponsive to prior laser treatment received an intravitreal injection of 4 mg triamcinolone acetonide. Examinations were performed 1 day preoperatively and at 1 week and 1, 3, 6, and 9 months after surgery and included slit-lamp examination, measurement of IOP, assessment of distance as well as reading visual acuity and assessment of macular thickness using optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Mean age of the patients (mean+/-SD) was 66.6+/-8.6 years. Mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) for distance (LogMAR using ETDRS charts) improved from 1.0+/-0.4 preoperatively to 0.9+/-0.4 (p=0.01) 1 week and to 0.9+/-0.4 (p=0.02) 1 month postoperatively. Mean BCVA for reading vision (LogRAD using Radner Reading Charts) improved from 1.1+/-0.4 preoperatively to 0.9+/-0.4 (p=0.002) 1 month postoperatively. Mean macular thickness decreased from 450+/-190 (microm) preoperatively to 305+/-153 (p=0.02) 1 month postoperatively. No significant improvement in VA and no significant reduction of macular thickness could be observed 3, 6, and 9 months postoperatively. Mean intraocular pressure significantly increased from 14.7+/-2.7 mmHg preoperatively to 16.9+/-3.0 mmHg at 1 month (p=0.02).

A single intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide led to a significant improvement in mean VA in patients with diabetic macular oedema. However, the significant effect was not permanent and persisted for only 1 month.