Intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide: potential complications

Abstract

Intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA) has been used as an off-label strategy in the management of a wide range of edematous, neovascular and inflammatory retinal diseases. Despite the variable success rates achieved in each disease, a variety of adverse events have been reported. These may be associated with the intravitreal injection procedure (endophthalmitis, vitreous hemorrhage and retinal detachment), preservatives in the vehicle of the drug (intraocular toxicity and noninfectious endophthalmitis) and the corticosteroid itself (cataract, ocular hypertension and infection). This article aims to review the incidence and mechanisms of the potential adverse effects of IVTA injection.

Keywords::

• adverse effects
• corticosteroids
• intravitreal injections
• risk factors
• triamcinolone acetonide
• vitreous body

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.