Effect of intravitreal triamcinolone injection during vitrectomy for idiopathic epiretinal membrane.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of intravitreal triamcinolone injections as an adjuvant of vitrectomy for idiopathic epiretinal membrane.

Methods: This study included 58 eyes of 58 patients who were diagnosed as having idiopathic epiretinal membrane and who underwent vitrectomy and membrane peeling. They were divided into 2 groups: 27 eyes in the injected group that received triamcinolone injection during the surgical procedure and 31 eyes in the control group that did not receive injection. The best-corrected visual acuity, foveal thickness, and complications were compared between the two groups.

Results: Average visual acuity of the injected group improved from 0.70 logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) (Snellen equivalent, 20/100; range, 20/25-20/200) at baseline to 0.59 logMAR (20/80; range, 20/40-20/200) at 1 month and 0.55 logMAR (20/70; range, 20/30-20/200) at 3 months. Foveal thickness reduced from 456.9 μm (range, 307-740 μm) to 387.9 μm (range, 238-584 μm) at 1 month and 336.4 μm (range, 225-529 μm) at 3 months, respectively. In the control group, average visual acuity improved from 0.63 logMAR (20/80; range, 20/40-20/300) to 0.48 logMAR (20/60; range, 20/25-20/125) and 0.43 logMAR (20/50; range, 20/25-20/160) at 1 month and 3 months, respectively. Foveal thickness reduced from 467.1 μm (range, 328-621 μm) to 376.1 μm (range, 271-429 μm) and 375.1 μm (range, 236-475 μm) at 1 month and 3 months, respectively. There were no significant differences in the visual acuity, foveal thickness, and any complications between the two groups during follow-up.

Conclusion: Intravitreal injection of triamcinolone combined with vitrectomy for idiopathic epiretinal membrane did not affect postoperative foveal thickness and functional recovery.