Evaluation of sub-Tenon triamcinolone acetonide injections in the treatment of scleritis.

Purpose: To suggest that sub-Tenon triamcinolone acetonide (TA) injections may be a helpful supplement in patients with scleritis.

Design: Retrospective, interventional case series.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted of all patients at our institution receiving sub-Tenon TA injections for scleritis between August 2001 and August 2007. Outcome measures included subjective improvement, presence of inflammation, and adverse events.

Results: Eleven patients (12 eyes) were included in this study. The mean age was 50 years; 2 patients were male and 9 female. Six patients had systemic autoimmune disease. All patients were receiving systemic medications for scleritis at the time of injection. Mean initial follow-up time was 3 weeks. Ten of 11 patients reported subjective improvement, and 10 patients had improvement in objective inflammation. Three patients had adverse side effects, including ocular hypertension, worsening of cataract, and subconjunctival hemorrhage with periorbital ecchymosis.

Conclusions: Sub-Tenon TA injections may be a useful adjunct to achieving transient, partial improvement of subjective pain and objective inflammation in patients with scleritis while awaiting systemic medications to take effect. Adverse events were manageable in this small series.