Effect of intracameral triamcinolone acetonide on postoperative intraocular pressure after cataract surgery

Abstract

To evaluate the effect of 1 mg intracameral triamcinolone acetonide (TA) on postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) after routine cataract surgery. This prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study comprised 120 eyes of 120 patients with uncomplicated cataract surgery. The patients were randomized into two groups. Eyes in group 1 (60 eyes) received an injection of 1 mg TA into the anterior chamber at the end of the surgery, but eyes in group 2 (60 eyes) did not. The biomicroscopic evaluation, visual acuity (VA), and IOP measurements were done at baseline (preoperatively) and 6, 20-24 h, 1 week, and permonthly until 6 months postoperatively. Mean IOP at 6 and 20-24 h postoperatively were significantly higher than baseline measurements in both groups (P<0.001). Also, the mean IOP values at postoperative 6 and 20-24 h were slightly higher in group 1 than in group 2 (P>0.05 for both). The mean IOPs at week 1 and 1-6 months after surgery were not significantly different from baseline values in both groups (P>0.05 for both time periods). At 6 and 20-24 h postoperatively, the number of eyes with an IOP increase>5 and 10 mm Hg with respect to baseline were not statistically different between the two groups (P>0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in mean VA and the amount of anterior chamber cells and flare between the two groups at any postoperative visit (P>0.05). Intracameral injection of 1 mg TA after uncomplicated phacoemulsification surgery had no significant effects on postoperative IOP.