Intraoperative intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide for cataract extraction in patients with uveitis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of intravitreal triamcinolone injection in controlling postoperative inflammation after cataract extraction in patients with uveitis.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 30 eyes with uveitis that had phacoemulsification or extracapsular cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation. Intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (4 mg) was injected at the end of surgery. No systemic steroids were given after surgery.

RESULTS

Visual acuity improvement of 2 lines or more occurred in 26 eyes (86.7%). Six eyes (20%) had a best-corrected visual acuity of 6/60 or better before surgery, which increased to 22 eyes (73.3%) after surgery. Five eyes (16.7%) had a visual acuity of 6/12 or better after surgery. Intravitreal triamcinolone injection controlled the postoperative inflammation in all eyes for at least 3 months following surgery.

CONCLUSION

Intravitreal triamcinolone injection was effective in controlling postoperative inflammation after cataract extraction in patients with uveitis sparing the use of systemic steroids.