Triamcinolone Regurgitation into Anterior Chamber after Intravitreal Triamcinolone Injection

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To report triamcinolone regurgitation into the anterior chamber after intravitreal triamcinolone injection for macular edema. METHODS: A total of 402 eyes (432 cases) received intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide for macular edema from November 2002 to December 2004. A retrospective review included the medical records of all patients who showed regurgitation into the anterior chamber after intravitreal triamcinolone injection. The clinical outcome and any complications were analyzed. RESULTS: Regurgitation was observed in 9 of 402 eyes (11 of 432 cases, 2.55%) after intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection. All were phakic eyes. Pseudohypopyon was observed during the follow-up period but resolved gradually without any significant complications. Intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide results in increased visual acuity (p<0.01) and decreased macular thickness (p<0.01) after 2 weeks of injection. CONCLUSIONS: Triamcinolone particles that regurgitated into the anterior chamber gradually resolved without any significant complications. These can, however, mask symptoms of endophthalmitis and delay accurate diagnosis, so careful follow-up examination is imperaive.