Evaluation of subretinal triamcinolone acetonide in patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: The aim of this paper was to present the results of subretinal delivery of triamcinolone acetonide (TCA) in humans with choroidal neovascularization (CNV) caused by age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: Twenty two (22) eyes of 22 patients underwent pars plana vitrectomy with subretinal TCA administration. Two milligrams (2 mg) of preservative-free TCA were delivered through a 32-gauge automatic subretinal injector in 20 microL of volume. Visual acuity, fluorescein angiography (FA), and intraocular pressure (IOP) were recorded and compared pre- and postoperatively.

Results: Preoperative average+/-standard deviation visual acuity in the treated eye was 1.408+/-0.129 (logMAR; median 20/400) and 1.403+/-0.114 (logMAR; median 20/300) postoperatively (P=0.51). The mean area of pre- and postoperative FA leakage in the operated eyes was 21.31+/-1.125 and 19.29+/-1.108 mm2, respectively (P=0.04). The average IOP value before treatment was 15.3+/-0.78 mmHg. Three (3) months after surgery, it was 20.5+/-2.04 mmHg (P=0.02). Six (6) months and 1 year after surgery, the average IOP was 17.0+/-0.66 mmHg (P=0.9) and 15.6+/-1.02 mmHg (P=0.6), respectively.

Conclusions: Subretinal TCA stabilizes visual acuity, decreases FA leakage in eyes with CNV owing to AMD, and does not increase IOP, as seen with intravitreous injections.