Intravitreal injection of crystalline triamcinolone acetonide in the treatment of diffuse diabetic macular oedema

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the clinical outcome of an intravitreal injection of crystalline triamcinolone acetonide as treatment of clinically significant diffuse diabetic macular oedema. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 8 patients (10 eyes) who received an intravitreal injection of 25 mg crystalline triamcinolone acetonide as treatment of clinically significant diffuse diabetic macular oedema follow-up time was 3.48 +/- 3.25 months (mean +/- SD). The study group was compared with a control group of 16 patients with diffuse diabetic macular oedema who underwent grid laser coagulation of the macular region. RESULTS: In the study group, visual acuity increased significantly (p = 0.03) from 0.11 +/- 0.09 at baseline of the study to a maximum of 0.19 +/- 0.13 during the follow-up period. Six (85.7 %) of the seven eyes with a follow-up period of more than 4 weeks gained in visual acuity. Towards the end of the follow-up period, the triamcinolone acetonide crystals completely resolved and visual acuity decreased to 0.15 +/- 0.11, which was higher, but not significantly (p = 0.14) higher than the baseline value. Visual acuity was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the study group than in the control group for the examinations obtained up to 12 weeks after the injection. CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal injection of 25 mg crystalline triamcinolone acetonide may be beneficial for temporarily increasing visual acuity in patients with clinically significant diffuse diabetic macular oedema.