Long-term effect of intravitreal triamcinolone in the nonproliferative stage of type II idiopathic parafoveal telangiectasia.

PURPOSE

To report the visual outcomes and ocular complications of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA) in the treatment of the nonproliferative stage of type II idiopathic parafoveal telangiectasia (IPT).

METHODS

Retrospective, multicenter, uncontrolled interventional case series of 19 eyes of 14 consecutive patients with the nonproliferative stage of IPT that had undergone at least one intravitreal injection of 4 mg of triamcinolone acetonide. Demographic, medical, and ocular data were obtained through chart review. The main outcome measures included best-corrected visual acuity at several timepoints of follow up and ocular complications.

RESULTS

At baseline the mean logMAR visual acuity was 0.83 +/- 0.41 (Snellen 20/135, range 0.3-2). After an average follow-up of 21.2 months (range 6-44 months), the mean logMAR visual acuity remained essentially unchanged from baseline. At 3 months, the logMAR visual acuity was 0.86 +/- 0.44 (Snellen 20/145, P = 0.8378), at 6 months 0.86 +/- 0.42 (Snellen 20/145, P = 0.8149), at 12 months 0.87 +/- 0.46 (Snellen 20/148, P > 0.9999), at 18 months 0.84 +/- 0.35 (Snellen 20/138, P = 0.8385), and at the last follow-up 0.82 +/- 0.44 (Snellen 20/132, P = 0.9301). Seven eyes were reinjected once. Ten of 19 eyes (53%) developed cataract (3 eyes underwent phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation) and 7 of 19 eyes (37%) had an elevated intraocular pressure, none of which required surgical treatment.

CONCLUSION

IVTA does not seem to improve visual acuity in most eyes with the nonproliferative stage of IPT.