The effect of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide on intraocular pressure.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

To ascertain whether a single 4-mg intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection is associated with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Retrospective noncomparative interventional case series. Forty-three consecutive eyes of 38 patients who had 12 weeks of follow-up were included. The IOPs before and after triamcinolone acetonide treatment were recorded by Goldmann applanation at each patient visit.

RESULTS

Within 12 weeks after intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection, 21 of 43 eyes (48.8%) demonstrated an increase in IOP of 5 mm Hg or greater, and 12 of 43 eyes (27.9%) had an increase in IOP of 10 mm Hg or greater. The mean time for an increase in IOP of 5 mm Hg or greater to occur was 4.1 weeks (standard deviation = 4.8 weeks), and the mean time to reach maximum IOP was 6.6 weeks (standard deviation = 5.1). The difference between the mean pre-injection IOP (15.12 mm Hg, n = 43) and the maximum post-injection IOP (20.74 mm Hg, n = 43) was statistically significant (P < .0001).

CONCLUSION

A single 4-mg intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection is associated with an increase in IOP of 10 mm Hg or greater in 27.9% of eyes after the first injection. All eyes responded to topical glaucoma medication.