Acute macular edema following intracorporeal prostaglandin injection for erectile dysfunction

PURPOSE We aimed to describe the first case of macular edema following intracorporeal injection of alprostadil, a prostaglandin E1. METHODS This was a retrospective case report followed with optical coherence tomography, fundus photos, and fluorescein angiography images. RESULTS A patient developed bilateral cystoid macular edema following intracorporeal injection of alprostadil, a prostaglandin E1 for treatment of erectile dysfunction. The edema resolved following treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids, with subsequent recovery in visual acuity. DISCUSSION Systemic prostaglandin administration can cause macular edema and vision loss, indicating that elevated systemic prostaglandin levels may affect visual function. This has potential implications for other systemic disorders and treatments that could affect macular function.