Intravitreal triamcinolone injection combined with or without macular grid laser photocoagulation to treat macular edema

Abstract

Objective To compare the efficacy of intravitreal triamcinolone(IVTA) injection and IVTA combined with macular laser grid photocoagulation (MLGP) to treat macular edema.Methods Consecutive 89 patients (109 eyes)diagnosed with macular edema by examinations of ocular fundus and optical coherence tomography (OCT).The visual acuity was hand moving- 0.8 (0.19±0.13);the intraocular pressure(IOP)ranged from 7 mm Hg to 21 mm Hg(1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa)and the average IOP was 13.78 mm Hg.All the patients received OCT and microperimetry examinations,the central macular thickness was (570±182) μm;the average light sensitivity was (5.07±3.94) dB and the fixation percentage was 70.67% within 4 ° area around the macular fovea.All the patients received IVTA treatment,39 patients (48 eyes)further received MLGP 1 month later (IVTA-MLGP group).The remaining 50 patients (61 eyes) without MLGP treatment was the IVTA group.Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA),lOP,lens,OCT and microprimetry examinations before and after IVTA (1,3,6,12 months) were followed and analyzed.Results On the 12th months,the BCVA in IVTA-MLGP and IVTA group was (0.41±0.20),(0.24±0.19) respectively (P<0.05);the central macular thickness was (309±187) and (487±206) μm respectively(P<0.05);the mean light sensitivity of 4° central macular was (8.24±4.64)and(6.30±3.22) dB respectively (P<0.05);the fixation percentage was (87.01±19.70)% and (78.85±20.41) % respectively (P<0.05).During the follow-up recurrent macular edema was noticed in 28 eyes of IVTA group and 8 eyes of IVTA-MLGP group.Conclusions IVTA combined with MLG was more effective than IVTA to cure macular edema. Key words: Macular edema,cystoid/therapy; Triameinolone acetonide/therapeutic use; Laser coagulation/methods; Treatment outcome