Prophylactic selective laser trabeculoplasty in the prevention of intraocular pressure elevation after intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection.

PURPOSE To evaluate the prophylactic efficacy of selective laser trabeculoplasty for preventing an increase in intraocular pressure (IOP) after intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection. DESIGN Prospective, comparative, interventional case series. METHODS We studied 31 eyes with a baseline IOP of 21 mm Hg or more of 31 patients for which intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection was planned for diabetic macular edema. The patients were divided into 2 groups, a study group and control group. The study group comprised 15 eyes of 15 patients that underwent selective laser trabeculoplasty a mean of 8.3 ± 4.1 days before intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection. The control group comprised 16 eyes of 16 patients who underwent only intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection. Main outcomes measures were mean IOP and number of patients requiring antiglaucomatous therapy. RESULTS Mean baseline IOP was 21.6 ± 0.9 mm Hg in the study group and 21.5 ± 0.8 mm Hg in the control group (P = .98). Mean IOP at 1 day after injection was 17.0 ± 2.0 mm Hg in the study group and 19.5 ± 4.3 mm Hg in the control group (P = .23). Mean IOP at 1 week after injection was 16.9 ± 1.7 mm Hg and 18.4 ± 4.0 mm Hg, respectively (P = .49); mean IOP at 1 month after injection was 16.4 ± 1.5 mm Hg and 20.8 ± 5.6 mm Hg, respectively (P = .003); mean IOP at 3 months after injection was 15.8 ± 2.5 mm Hg and 18.3 ± 5.5 mm Hg, respectively (P = .01); and mean IOP at 6 months after injection was 15.7 ± 1.4 mm Hg and 17.1 ± 1.5 mm Hg, respectively (P = .03). The number of patients requiring antiglaucomatous therapy during follow-up was 0 of 15 eyes in the study group and 8 of 16 eyes in the control group (P = .001). CONCLUSIONS The IOP elevation after intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection may be prevented by performing selective laser trabeculoplasty before intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection, especially in cases with a baseline IOP of 21 mm Hg or more.