Purpose:
To investigate the anatomic and the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) response after intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection (IVTA 0.1ml/4mg) for treating clinically significant diabetic macular edema (DME).
Methods:
Sixty five eyes of 45 patients with clinically significant DME followed up in Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology were included in the study. The mean follow-up was 7,6±3,6 (3-14 months) months. The BCVA, central macular thickness (CMT) with optic cohorence tomography (OCT) and intraocular pressure values before and 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months after IVTA injection were noted.
Results:
BCVA improved in 41 (63%) eyes at 1 month, 28 (43%) eyes at 3 months and 2 eyes at 6 month after injection. The mean CMT at baseline,1.month, 3.months, 6.months and 12.months were recpectively 400,58 ± 136 µm, 293,36 ± 115 µm, 258,97 ± 110 µm, 308,59 ± 158 µm. The mean IOP before injection, at 1.week, 1.month, 3.months, 6 months and 12.months after the injection were respectively 17,9 ± 2,2 mmHg, 18,7 ± 3,8 mmHg, 17,4 ± 4,1 mmHg, 16,2 ± 1,9 mmHg, 16,7 ± 1,5 mmHg.
Conclusion:
0.1 ml/4mg injection of IVTA appears to be a cost effective treatment choice which improves BCVA and CMT values in clinically significant DME in eligible patients.
Keywords: IVTA, diabetes mellitus, macular edema