PURPOSE: To assess the effect of intravitreal and posterior subtenon injections of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) on intraocular pressure (IOP). METHODS: we reviewed 42 consecutive eyes after intravitreal TA injection (IVTA) and 43 eyes following posterior subtenon TA injection (PSTA). All cases had a minimum follow-up time of three months. After injection, the value and time of the maximal IOP, the amount of IOP elevation and the needs of the medication were assessed. RESULTS: The IOP increased significantly (p<0.001) from 16.3+/-2.5 mmHg preoperatively to a mean maximum of 21.7+/-5.3 mmHg in the IVTA group, and from 15.3+/-4.5 mmHg to 20.6+/-3.0 mmHg in the PSTA group. An elevation in the IOP of more than 5 mmHg from the baseline IOP was seen in 52.4% of the IVTA group at a mean time of 3.1 weeks postoperatively, and 44.2% of the PSTA group displayed an IOP elevation at 5.9 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Both developed significant elevations of IOP, but this appeared at a later date in the PSTA group. Careful follow-up after local injection of steroids is necessary.
Vitreous Body ; Uveitis, Posterior/*drug therapy/pathology ; Triamcinolone Acetonide/administration & dosage/*adverse effects ; Time Factors ; Retrospective Studies ; Orbit ; Ocular Hypertension/*chemically induced/physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Macular Edema, Cystoid/*drug therapy/pathology ; Intraocular Pressure/*drug effects ; Injections ; Humans ; Glucocorticoids/administration & dosage/*adverse effects ; Follow-Up Studies ; Female ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aged ; Adult

PURPOSE: To compare the effect of early versus late intravitreal injection of triamcinolone in patients with macular edema due to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). METHODS: Twenty eyes of 20 patients with macular edema from BRVO, including 10 with duration after onset of < or =3 months and 10 with duration of >3 months, were treated using a single intravitreal triamcinolone injection (4 mg/0.1 ml). Best-corrected visual acuity and foveal thickness by optical coherence tomography were measured 1, 3, and 6 months post-injection. RESULTS: In patients that received treatment after a disease duration of < or =3 months, visual acuity and foveal thickness significantly improved from baseline over 6 months of follow-up. However, in those with a duration of >3 months, improvements in visual acuity and foveal thickness, though apparent at 1 month, were not maintained at 3 and 6 months post-triamcinolone. CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal triamcinolone is more effective in patients with BRVO who are treated earlier.
Visual Acuity/drug effects ; Triamcinolone Acetonide/*administration & dosage/therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Retinal Vein Occlusion/*complications ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Macular Edema, Cystoid/chemically induced/*drug therapy/physiopathology ; Humans ; Glucocorticoids/*administration & dosage/therapeutic use ; Fovea Centralis/drug effects ; Female ; Drug Administration Schedule