Effect of a single intraoperative sub-Tenon injection of triamcinolone acetonide on the progression of diabetic retinopathy and visual outcomes after cataract surgery.

PURPOSE

To assess the effect of a single intraoperative sub-Tenon injection of triamcinolone acetonide on the progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR), visual outcomes, and cystoid macular edema (CME) after cataract surgery.

SETTING

Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.

METHODS

This prospective controlled study comprised 46 eyes of 23 diabetic patients. The control group comprised eyes not treated with a triamcinolone acetonide injection, and the triamcinolone group comprised contralateral eyes treated with a single posterior sub-Tenon injection of triamcinolone acetonide at the end of cataract surgery. The visual acuity, central macular thickness (CMT) by optical coherence tomography, and progression of DR were compared between the 2 groups.

RESULTS

One month postoperatively, the mean change in lines of best corrected visual acuity was significantly greater in the triamcinolone group (P = .045) and the mean change in CMT was significantly greater in the control group (P = .015). The incidence of CME was higher in the control group (P = 0.04). Scores for progression of DR at 6 months were not statistically significantly different between the 2 groups (P = 0.08).

CONCLUSIONS

A posterior sub-Tenon injection of triamcinolone acetonide lowered the incidence of CME after cataract surgery in diabetic patients, improved visual recovery, and reduced the amount of CMT increase in the short term (< or = 1 month postoperatively). However, triamcinolone acetonide did not affect DR progression over the 6-month follow-up.