Combination of Laser Treatment and Intravitreal Triamcinolone Injection for Macular Edema with Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To examine the clinical effect of combination method of laser treatment and intravitreal triamcinolone (TA) injection for patient of macular edema with branched retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). METHODS: fifteen patients, -(15 eyes), 7 malse and 8 females, with macular edema associated with BRVO were included in the study. The mean age was 59.47 years old. The response to treatment was monitored functionally by visual acuity assessment and anatomically by Optical Coherence Tomography(OCT) for macular thickness. Four milligrams of TA were injected into the vitreous cavity. The clinical outcome and complication were reviewed, retrospectively. RESULTS: After the combination method of laser treatment and intravitreal TA injection, 13 (87%), 12 (80%), 13 (87%) of the 15 eyes showed improved the mean visual acuity at 1-, 2-, and 6-month follow-ups retrospectively. Central macular thickness as measured by OCT decreased by 37% (312.5 +/- 9 micrometer), 42% (282.1 +/- 556 micrometer), and 56% (276.9 +/- 76 micrometer), at the same follow-ups from an initial pretreatment mean of 495.9 +/- 114 micrometer. The post-operative complications were intraocular pressure elevation (1 eye, 7%), and cataract (3 eyes, 20%). However, there were no serious postoperative complication such as retinal detachment, vitreous hemorrhage, and endophthalmitis. CONCLUSIONS: The combination method of laser treatment and intravitreal TA injection may be useful for treating patient of macular edema with BRVO.