Macular Infarction Following Intravitreal Triamcinolone Injection for Treatment of Central Retinal Vein Occlusion

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To report a case of macular infarction following intravitreal triamcinolone injection for treatment of central retinal vein occlusion. CASE SUMMARY: A 75-year-old male visited our clinic for visual disturbance in his left eye and was diagnosed with macular infarction in his right eye. His medical history included type 2 diabetes, alcoholic liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. After fundus examination, the patient was diagnosed with central vein occlusion with macular edema and intravitreal triamcinolone was administered to reduce edema. Within 1 week of treatment with the intravitreal injection, the patient experienced a significant decrease in visual acuity. Fluorescein angiogram showed an enlargement of the foveal avasacular zone, although optical coherence tomography (OCT) showed a decreased macular edema. Despite normalization of macular thickness on OCT and cessation of leakage on angiography, visual acuity remained at the same level during 2 months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injection as well as intravitreal triamcinolone injection can cause macular ischemia which should be considered with the adopted treatment regimen for patients with ischemic risk factors.