Assessment of Suprachoroidal Injection of Triamcinolone Acetonide in Cases of Diabetic Macular Edema

Abstract

Background: Diabetic retinopathy [DR] remains one of the main causes of visual reduction in the world. The visual reduction in patients with DR is usually due to diabetic macular edema [DME].Suprachoroidal triamcinolone acetonide injection is a new effective modality used for the management of diabetic macular edema. The aim of the work: To assess the visual acuity [VA], central macular thickness [CMT] by optical coherence tomography [OCT] and intraocular pressure [IOP] measurement in patients with DME injected with Triamcinolone Acetonide through suprachoroidal space. Patients and Methods: Forty eyes of 37 patients [18 males and 19 females]] with DME were included and followed-up for 6 months to assess VA, CMT and IOP. Patients were included if they were diagnosed as DME. Results: Baseline measurements were logMAR best corrected visual acuity [VA] which was 0.83 ± 0.09, [OCT] which was 422.42 ± 64.1 µm and [IOP] which was 15.25 ± 1.46 mmHg. Post injection measurements of VA during the four points of the follow-up period showed statistically significant improvement. At one-week post-injection, logMAR VA was 0.82 ± 0.09, at one-month follow-up was 0.72 ± 0.09, at three months was 0.68 ± 0.1, at six months, was 0.62 ± 0.1,. OCT follow-up measurements showed highly significant improvements, which started from the first week post-injection till the end of the follow-up period at six months point. At one week, it measured 391.7 ± 60.6 µm, at one month the measurement was 337.1 ± 54.5 µm, at three months was 302.7 ± 46.5, at six months, was 267.9 ± 40.7. Conclusion: Injection of TA to the suprachoroidal space in DME, was well tolerated without any serious ocular adverse events and produced significant resolution in CST and significant improvement in BCVA.

Keywords

• keywords: diabetic
• macular edema
• triamcinolone acetonide
• suprachoroidal space
• optical coherence tomography