Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences
Volume 24, Issue 2 , Pages 72-77, February 2008

Elevation of Intraocular Pressure After Intravitreal Injection of Triamcinolone Acetonide in Taiwanese Patients

  • Yo-Chen Chang

      Affiliations

    • Department of Ophthalmology, Kaohsiung Municipal Hsiao-Kang Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Wen-Chuan Wu

      Affiliations

    • Department of Ophthalmology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress correspondence and reprint requests to: Dr Wen-Chuan Wu, Department of Ophthalmology, Kaohsiung Medical University, 100 Tzyou 1st Road, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan

Received 26 June 2007; accepted 12 September 2007.

Article Outline

The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence and timing of elevation in intraocular pressure (IOP) after intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA). This was a retrospective observational case series that included 52 eyes from 52 patients. All patients received intravitreal injection with 4 mg of triamcinolone acetonide. Significant IOP elevation was defined as pressure greater than 21 mmHg. There were 26 males and 26 females included in this study. The mean age was 59.4 years. The mean IOP at baseline and postoperative mean highest IOP were 14.6 mmHg and 21.5 mmHg, respectively. There were 19 (36.5%) patients who experienced significant IOP elevation at a mean of 26.0 days after IVTA. IOP was well-controlled by topical antiglaucoma medication in 17 of these 19 patients. IOP elevation after intravitreal injection with 4 mg of triamcinolone acetonide is not a rare finding. This phenomenon usually starts approximately 1 month after IVTA. Patients considering this treatment should be fully informed of this known adverse effect.

Key Words:  corticosteroid-induced glaucoma , intraocular pressure , intravitreal injection , triamcinolone acetonide

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PII: S1607-551X(08)70100-1

doi:10.1016/S1607-551X(08)70100-1

Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences
Volume 24, Issue 2 , Pages 72-77, February 2008

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