Purpose: To evaluate the effect of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide on visual acuity and intraocular pressure in patients with central retinal vein occlusion.
Methods: This prospective comparative non-randomized clinical interventional study included 32 patients (33 eyes) with central retinal vein occlusion. The study group (12 patients; 13 eyes) received an intravitreal injection of about 20 mg of triamcinolone acetonide. The control group (20 patients) did not receive any treatment. Mean follow-up was 10.1+/-8.6 months in the study group and 6.0+/-5.2 months in the control group.
Results: In the study group, mean visual acuity increased significantly (p=0.018) from 0.11+/-0.11 preoperatively to a best visual acuity during follow-up of 0.18+/-0.15. An improvement in visual acuity by at least 2 Snellen lines and 3 Snellen lines, respectively, was found for 8 (62%) eyes and 5 (38) eyes. Visual acuity measurements determined 1 month (p=0.038) and 3 months (p=0.046) after the injection were significantly higher than the baseline values. Increase in visual acuity was higher in the non-ischemic subgroup than in the ischemic subgroup. In the control group, baseline visual acuity and best visual acuity during the followup did not vary significantly (p=0.33). Visual acuity decreased significantly (p=0.007) towards the end of the follow-up. Comparing study group and control group, gain in visual acuity was significantly (p=0.01) higher in the study group. In the study group, intraocular pressure increased significantly (p=0.018) from 14.4+/-3.9 mmHg to a mean maximal value of 21.6+/-9.2 mmHg (range, 10-44 mmHg), and re-decreased (p=0.012) towards the end of follow-up to 15.3+/-5.1 mmHg (range, 10-21 mmHg).
Conclusions: Intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide temporarily increases visual acuity in central retinal vein occlusion. It is accompanied by an increase in intraocular pressure.