The effect of intravitreal triamcinolone for the treatment of macular edema associated with branch retinal vein occlusion

Objective To study the efficacy and safety of introvitreal injection with triamcinolone acetonide(TA) for the treatment of macular edema associated with branch retinal vein occlusion(BRVO).Methods 26 eyes were studied,which were from 26 patients with macular edema associated with BRVO.The criteria for this study included cystoid macular edema,detectable clinically and angiographically,and the presence of serous macular detachment documented by optical coherence tomography(OCT).Treatment consisted of a single intravitreal injection of 4 mg of TA under subconjunctival anaesthesia.Mean follow-up time was 5 months(ranged from 1 to 8 months).Results Mean visual acuity before treatment was 0.1(ranged from HM/30 cm to 0.3);mean improvement in visual acuity after treatment was:0.25,0.55,0.64 and 0.59.Snellen lines at the follow-up intervals were 1,3,30 and 90 days,respectively.The improvement in visual acuity was statistically significant after injection.Mean pre-injection central foveal thickness was(931.60+312.37)μm;mean post-injection central foveal thickness was:(297.05±84.23)μm,(221.53±51.67)μm and(185.54±49.16)μm at the follow-up intervals of 1 week,1 month and 3 months,respectively.The improvement in central foveal thickness was statistically significant after injection.Elevation of intraocular pressure was found in 9 patients and was back to normal after topical antiglaucomatosis and ALT treatment.Sterile endophthalmitis was not detected in all the patients.Conclusion The preliminary results in our study showed prompt absorption of macular edema after introvitreal injection with triamcinolone acetonide(TA),corresponded with improved visual acuity in patients with CME secondary to BRVO.However after injection the regression of visual acuity appears inevitable in the long term and may result in complications.