Intravitreal injection of triamcinolone for diffuse diabetic macular edema.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the clinical outcome of an intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide as treatment of diffuse diabetic macular edema. PARTICIPANTS This prospective, interventional, clinical case series study included 20 patients (26 eyes) who received an intravitreal injection of 25 mg of triamcinolone acetonide for treatment of diffuse diabetic macular edema. Mean +/- SD follow-up time was 6.64 +/- 6.10 months. The study group was compared with a control group of 16 patients who underwent macular grid laser coagulation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Visual acuity and intraocular pressure. RESULTS In the study group, visual acuity improved significantly (P<.001), from 0.12 +/- 0.08 at baseline to a maximum of 0.19 +/- 0.14 during follow-up. Seventeen (81%) of 21 eyes with a follow-up period of more than 1 month had improved visual acuity. In the control group, visual acuity did not change significantly. In the study group, intraocular pressure increased significantly (P<.001), from 16.9 +/- 2.5 mm Hg to a mean maximal value of 21.3 +/- 4.7 mm Hg, and decreased significantly (P =.03) to 17.7 +/- 4.7 mm Hg at the study's end. CONCLUSION Intravitreal injection of 25 mg of triamcinolone acetonide may be beneficial for improving visual acuity in patients with clinically significant diffuse diabetic macular edema.