Posterior sub‐tenon injection of triamcinolone acetonide as a pretreatment of focal laser photocoagulation for diabetic macular edema

• Published in: Acta ophthalmologica (Oxford, England) Vol. 86; no. s243
• Main Authors: OGATA, N, SHIMA, C, MINAMINO, K, YOSHIKAWA, T, MATSUYAMA, K, MATSUMURA, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.09.2008
• ISSN: 1755-375X; 1755-3768
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2008.607.x

Purpose To determine whether a posterior sub‐Tenon injection of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) before focal photocoagulation is a safe and effective treatment for diabetic macular edema. Methods Sixteen eyes of 11 diabetic patients with unresolved diffuse macular edema were treated with a 20 mg sub‐Tenon injection of TA 1 to 2 months before focal photocoagulation. Focal photocoagulation was applied only to microaneurysms, and grid laser photocoagulation was not performed. The main outcome measures were visual acuity (VA), the optical coherence tomographically (OCT)‐determined central macular thickness (CMT), and the fluorescein angiographic appearance of the retina. Patients were followed for at least 6 months. Results One month after the sub‐Tenon injection of TA, the macular edema was resolved with a significant reduction of the CMT by OCT. The VA was slightly improved. Subsequent focal photocoagulation of the microaneurysms maintained the significant reduction of CMT for up to 6 months. A significant improvement of VA was observed in 37.5% patients at 6 months, and no patient had a decrease of VA. Conclusion A 20 mg of sub‐Tenon's TA injection prior to focal laser photocoagulation is a safe and beneficial treatment for diabetic macular edema.