Alterations in central retinal sensitivity after intravitreal triamcinolone injection for diffuse diabetic macular edema.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate alterations in central retinal sensitivity following intravitreal triamcinolone injection in patients with diffuse diabetic macular edema that persisted after laser treatment.

METHODS

Fourteen eyes of 14 patients that received 4 mg 0.1 cc intravitreal triamcinolone underwent macular threshold test using computerized visual field analyzer before and after 1, 2, 3, and 5 months of triamcinolone injection. Pre- and postinjection values of total defect depth, total threshold, and best-corrected visual acuity were compared and correlated.

RESULTS

At the last follow-up, compared to baseline, visual acuity improved from 1.4+/-0.4 (logMAR, mean +/- standard deviation) to 1.0+/0.4 (p=0.01). Total defect depth tended to recover from 148+/-64 dB to 121+/-48 dB (p=0.12), and total threshold tended to increase from 241+/-87 dB to 271+/-68 dB (p=0.16), but these values did not reach significance. There was a significant correlation between baseline and 5 months postinjection values of total defect depth (rho=0.60, p=0.02), and of total threshold of light sensitivity (rho=0.55, p=0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Best-corrected visual acuity was found improved in patients with diabetic macular edema 5 months after triamcinolone injection. Improvement in central retinal sensitivity did not reach significant level at the last follow-up. Macular threshold test may be a valuable tool in the follow- up of patients with diffuse diabetic macular edema after intravitreal triamcinolone injection.