Pretreatment with Intravitreal Triamcinolone before Laser for Diabetic Macular Edema: 6-Month Results of a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Abstract

PURPOSE: To determine whether pretreatment with intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA) before laser photocoagulation is effective in eyes with diabetic macular edema (DME). METHODS: The study was a prospective, double-masked, placebo-controlled, clinical trial of eyes with DME and impaired vision (or=5 letters after 6 months. Secondary outcomes were necessity of further treatment, change in central macular thickness, and incidence of adverse events. RESULTS: Eighty-four eyes of 54 participants were entered into the study, with 6-month data available for 81 (96%) of 84 eyes. Improvement of >or=5 logMAR letters was similar in eyes treated with IVTA before laser as placebo (18/42 [43%] IVT..