Single perioperative triamcinolone injection versus standard postoperative steroid drops after uneventful...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Surgical Innovation
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Cataract surgery can lead to complications such as pseudophakic cystoid macular edema (CME).
• Steroid administration is crucial for managing postoperative inflammation and preventing CME.
• Conventional steroid eye drops may have limitations in consistent delivery and patient compliance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the safety and efficacy of a single perioperative sub-Tenon's injection of triamcinolone.
• To evaluate the impact of this injection on the incidence of early pseudophakic cystoid macular edema (CME).

Main Methods:

• Prospective randomized controlled trial involving 54 eyes undergoing routine cataract surgery.
• Comparison between conventional steroid eye drops and a single sub-Tenon's injection of triamcinolone (20 mg or 30 mg).
• Evaluation of visual acuity, anterior chamber flare, intraocular pressure, and angiographic CME over 90 days.

Main Results:

• Both treatment groups showed significant improvement in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) by day 90.
• Anterior chamber flare, an indicator of inflammation, increased postoperatively in both groups but decreased by day 90.
• The group receiving 30 mg of triamcinolone via sub-Tenon's injection showed the lowest peak flare at day 8.

Conclusions:

• A single 30 mg sub-Tenon's injection of triamcinolone is a safe and effective method for steroid delivery post-cataract surgery.
• Larger studies are necessary to confirm its efficacy in reducing pseudophakic CME, particularly in high-risk individuals.