POSTERIOR SUBTENON INJECTION OF TRIAMCINALONE ACETONIDE FOR CYSTOID DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA

Objectives: To assess the efficacy and safety of posterior subtenon triamcinolone acetonide injection for the treatment of diabetic cystoid macular edema. Methods: This prospective, randomized comparative trial included diabetic patients with cystoid macular edema involving 79 eyes. Forty one eyes were randomly given posterior subtenon triamcinolone acetonide injection while the remaining 38 eyes served as a control group. The eligibility criteria for this study included patients with clinically and angiographically detectable cystoid macular edema during the past six months, glycosylated hemoglobin not more than 8.5% and history of previous laser treatment not earlier than three months. All eyes of posterior subtenon triamcinolone acetonide injection group received 40mg of triamcinalone acetonide through a superotemporal approach in the outpatient clinic. After injection, the visual and anatomical responses were observed at weeks 1, 3, 6, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24. Intraocular pressure, incidence of reinjection and complications were also noted. Results: At one week after injection, all injected eyes showed significant visual acuity improvement from baseline measurements (p 20mmHg) at the first week post injection and were treated with antiglaucoma drugs for a mean time of 5.5±1.41 months. Another two eyes had localized subconjunctival hemorrhage at the site of injection. Conclusion: Posterior subtenon triamcinolone acetonide injection of 40mg triamcinolone acetonide through a superotemporal approach appears to be safe and effective for short-term management of diabetic cystoid macular edema.