PURPOSE: To investigate the efficacy of posterior subtenon triamcinolone (PSTA) injection for diabetic macular edema (DME) in eyes with full panretinal photocoagulation (PRP).
METHODS: Study included 44 eyes of 37 patients with center involving DME with full PRP. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT) on spectral domain OCT were measured at 1, 3 and 6 months.
RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 15,1 months. Significant improvement in visual acuity from 0.86±0.36 to 0.73±0.31 LogMAR (-0.13) was observed 1 month after the PSTA injection (p < 0.001). Vision improved in 29 (65.9%), not changed in 13 (29.6%) and decreased in 2 eyes (4.5%) at month 1. Statistically significant CRT decrease from 509.1±177 µm to 337.8±143µm was observed at month 1 (p: 0.000). A minor reincrease in CRT was observed at month 3. However, there was still a statistically significant improvement in BCVA and CRT at month 3 compare to baseline (p: 0.000). Mean letter gain was 9.8 (5-30) at month 3. Reinjection was performed when edema recurred. Reinjection interval was 4.6±1.2 months. Mean reinjection number was 2.8 ±1.8. Only one eye did not respond response to treatment. Intraocular pressure elevated in 15.9% of the eyes. No serious complications were observed.
CONCLUSION: Posterior subtenon triamcinolone is a safe and effective treatment method for center involving DME in eyes with full PRP.