Effect of Intravitreal Triamcinolone (IVT) Injection on Visual AcuityHasan

To determine the effect of intravitreal triamcinolone (IVT) injection on visual acuity in patients with ischemic central retinal occlusion (CRVO).

This randomized clinical trial was performed on patients with ischemic CRVO referred to the retina clinic at Feiz Hospital in 2007-2008. Inclusion criteria were: duration of CRVO less than one month, normal IOP, no sign of diabetic retinopathy or hypertensive retinopathy, no history of laser therapy and ocular surgery and vascular diseases. Patients were randomly allocated to two groups: intervention group (injection of 0.1cc IVT) and control group (no injection). Follow up examinations for all patients were scheduled 1, 2, 3 and 6 months after injection. The results were analyzed by SPSS13 and t-test.

Overall, 52 patients (22 male and 30 female) entered the study. Mean age was 60.5+9.7 (range: 30-80) years. Duration of signs was 21+5.5 days in the control group and 19+6 days in the IVT group (P= 0.66).All patients had signs of ischemic CRVO. Mean baseline visual acuity was 1.75+0.20 logMAR in the IVT group and 1.91+0.08 logMAR in the control group (P= 0.1). VA improvement in the IVT group was greater in comparison with the control group at one month (P= 0.019) however this difference was not significant at other follow-up examinations. In addition, the difference in IOP between before and after the injection was not significant (P= 0.802).

This study showed that in patients with CRVO, intravitreal injection of triamcinolone, has no significant long-term effect on visual acuity.