Duration of the effect of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide as treatment for diffuse diabetic macular edema.

Abstract

To evaluate the duration of the effect of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide on visual acuity in patients with diffuse diabetic macular edema. Clinical interventional case series. Subjects were 31 patients (38 eyes) with diffuse diabetic macular edema who received an intravitreal injection of 20- to 25-mg triamcinolone acetonide. Mean follow-up time was 13.2 +/- 6.0 months (6.03-25.2 months). Visual acuity and intraocular pressure began to increase significantly (P =.003) within the first week, reaching a plateaulike maximum at 1 to 7 months postinjection, returning to baseline values 8 to 9 months postinjection. The effect of an intravitreal injection of approximately 20- to 25-mg triamcinolone acetonide in patients with diffuse diabetic macular edema lasts approximately 7 to 8 months. This information may be helpful in determining the optimal dosage of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide for the treatment of diffuse diabetic macular edema.