Alterations in central retinal sensitivity after intravitreal triamcinolone injection for diffuse diabetic macular edema

PURPOSE: To evaluate alterations in central retinal sensitivity following intravitreal triamcinolone injection in patients with diffuse diabetic macular edema that persisted after laser treatment. METHODS: Fourteen eyes of 14 patients that received 4 mg 0.1 cc intravitreal triamcinolone underwent macular threshold test using computerized visual field analyzer before and after 1, 2, 3, and 5 months of triamcinolone injection. Pre- and postinjection values of total defect depth, total threshold, and best-corrected visual acuity were compared and correlated. RESULTS: At the last follow-up, compared to baseline, visual acuity improved from 1.4+/-0.4 (logMAR, mean +/- standard deviation) to 1.0+/0.4 (p=0.01). Total defect depth tended to recover from 148+/-64 dB to 121+/-48 dB (p=0.12), and total threshold tended to increase from 241+/-87 dB to 271+/-68 dB (p=0.16), but these values did not reach significance. There was a significant correlation between baseline and 5 months postinjection values of total defect depth (rho=0.60, p=0.02), and of total threshold of light sensitivity (rho=0.55, p=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Best-corrected visual acuity was found improved in patients with diabetic macular edema 5 months after triamcinolone injection. Improvement in central retinal sensitivity did not reach significant level at the last follow-up. Macular threshold test may be a valuable tool in the follow- up of patients with diffuse diabetic macular edema after intravitreal triamcinolone injection.