Effect of intravitreal triamcinolone injection during vitrectomy for idiopathic epiretinal membrane

To investigate the effect of intravitreal triamcinolone injections as an adjuvant of vitrectomy for idiopathic epiretinal membrane.

This study included 58 eyes of 58 patients who were diagnosed as having idiopathic epiretinal membrane and who underwent vitrectomy and membrane peeling. They were divided into 2 groups: 27 eyes in the injected group that received triamcinolone injection during the surgical procedure and 31 eyes in the control group that did not receive injection. The best-corrected visual acuity, foveal thickness, and complications were compared between the two groups.

Average visual acuity of the injected group improved from 0.70 logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) (Snellen equivalent, 20/100; range, 20/25-20/200) at baseline to 0.59 logMAR (20/80; range, 20/40-20/200) at 1 month and 0.55 logMAR (20/70; range, 20/30-20/200) at 3 months. Foveal thickness reduced from 456.9 μm (range, 307-740 μm) to 387.9 μm (range, 238-584 μm) at 1 month and 336.4 μm (range, 225-529 μm) at 3 months, respectively. In the control group, average visual acuity improved from 0.63 logMAR (20/80; range, 20/40-20/300) to 0.48 logMAR (20/60; range, 20/25-20/125) and 0.43 logMAR (20/50; range, 20/25-20/160) at 1 month and 3 months, respectively. Foveal thickness reduced from 467.1 μm (range, 328-621 μm) to 376.1 μm (range, 271-429 μm) and 375.1 μm (range, 236-475 μm) at 1 month and 3 months, respectively. There were no significant differences in the visual acuity, foveal thickness, and any complications between the two groups during follow-up.

Intravitreal injection of triamcinolone combined with vitrectomy for idiopathic epiretinal membrane did not affect postoperative foveal thickness and functional recovery.