Effect of Intravitreal Injection as a Primary Treatment in Cystoid Macular Edema after Cataract Surgery

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To report the clinical manifestations of intravitreal triamcinolone injection as a primary treatment method for patients with cystoid macular edema after cataract surgery. METHODS: The present retrospective study was comprised of patients diagnosed with cystoid macular edema after cataract surgery performed between March 2006 and March 2008. To treat the edema, intravitreal triamcinolone injection was administered. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness were measured, and complications as well as efficacy of the treatment were evaluated. RESULTS: Twelve eyes were selected for the present study with a mean patient age of 67.3 years. The average period between cataract surgery and diagnosis of cystoid macular edema was 7.6 weeks. All 12 eyes received an intravitreal triamcinolone injection, and the patients were followed up for an average of 6.7 months. BCVA (log MAR) was changed from 0.29 +/- 0.12 to 0.11 +/- 0.09, showing statistically significant improvement (p = 0.000). The OCT showed that the average CMT was statistically decreased from 390.58 +/- 94.98 microm to 165.17 +/- 39.95 microm (p = 0.001). No complications were reported after the procedure, and vision and edema improved after one month in all 12 eyes. CONCLUSIONS: After performing intravitreal triamcinolone injection as a primary treatment method for cystoid macular edema which developed after cataract surgery, rapid recovery and improvement of vision and macular thickness were confirmed in all 12 eyes.