Ocular complications after a sub-tenon injection of triamcinolone acetonide for uveitis

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the complications of a sub-Tenon injection of triamcinolone acetonide in patients with uveitis.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of uveitis cases treated from 1999 to 2003 in Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. Thirty patients (45 eyes), who received a sub-Tenon injection of 0.5 ml of a triamcinolone acetonide suspension for uveitis control, were included, and 16 (26 eyes) of these patients underwent intraocular pressure (IOP) monitoring for over 3 months after the procedure.

Results: The incidence of ocular penetration was 1.6% and of rapidly progressive cataracts was 13.3%. The incidence of ocular hypertension (>21 mmHg) was 76.9% (20/26). The ocular hypertension in most cases was controlled with topical medications, with recovery of normal IOP. Long-term topical antiglaucoma medication was given for 3 eyes, and another 3 eyes (11.5%) received a trabeculectomy performed by glaucoma specialists. The incidence of glaucoma during the follow-up period after treatment is 23.1% (6/26).

Conclusions: The 23.1% incidence of glaucoma in this study is higher than expected. Careful pretreatment evaluation and post-treatment monitoring of IOP are mandatory for patients with uveitis receiving a sub-Tenon injection of triamcinolone acetonide.