Intereye difference in exudative age-related macular degeneration with minimally classic or occult subfoveal neovascularization after unilateral intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide

PURPOSE: To report on visual outcome after intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide for exudative age-related macular degeneration. DESIGN: Interventional comparative non-randomized clinical trial. METHODS: SETTING: Institutional. PATIENTS: Twenty consecutive patients with bilateral exudative age-related macular degeneration with minimally classic or occult subfoveal neovascularisation. INTERVENTIONS: Unilateral intravitreal injection of about 20 mg triamcinolone acetonide into the eye (study group) more severely affected or showing more pronounced progression of the disease. Mean follow-up was 13.5 +/- 4.1 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Visual acuity. RESULTS: In the study group, visual acuity increased significantly (P < 0.001) from 0.96 +/- 0.32 logMar to a mean maximum of 0.76 +/- 0.30 logMar during follow-up. An increase in best visual acuity during follow-up was found in 18 (90%) eyes. In 11 (55%) eyes and 7 (35%) eyes, respectively, best visual acuity increased by at least two Snellen lines and three Snellen lines, respectively. In the control group, visual acuity at baseline and the highest visual acuity measurements during follow-up did not vary significantly (P = 0.90). Comparing study group and control group, visual acuity gain was significantly (P = 0.003) higher in the study group. Correspondingly, the number of eyes with an increase in visual acuity (P = 0.002) and with an increase in visual acuity higher > or = 3 lines compared to a loss of > or = 3 lines was significantly (P = 0.027) higher in the study group. CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide may temporarily increase visual acuity in eyes with exudative age-related macular degeneration.