Use of the Honan balloon as a compression device for intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection.

Obtaining a lower intraocular pressure (IOP) before an intravitreal injection is important to avoid the danger of an immediate increase in IOP. This article describes the use of the Honan balloon to reduce the IOP before an intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection instead of the other procedures described in the literature, which may increase the risk of complications. The results of the technique in 19 patients with retinal vein occlusion are reported. Honan balloon was applied at 30 mm Hg for 10 minutes and the injection was then performed no more than 5 minutes after the removal of the Honan balloon. In no more than 10 minutes, this procedure resulted in a significant reduction in IOP. No complications such as central retinal artery occlusion were observed after the injection.