Short-term Safety and Efficacy of Intravitreal Triamcinolone Acetonide for Uveitic Macular Edema in Children

Abstract

Intraocular inflammation is uncommon in children and accounts for between 5% and 10% of all uveitis cases seen in tertiary referral hospitals.^1,2 However, pediatric uveitis presents a distinct challenge for ophthalmologists because of the associated sight-threatening complications and age-related treatment. Cystoid macular edema (CME) is one of the major causes of ocular morbidity in these children,² and although it generally responds to systemic corticosteroids and steroid-sparing drugs, long-term treatment in children is associated with marked adverse effects such as growth retardation.^2-4 Intravitreal (IV) triamcinolone acetonide (TA) has recently been advocated in the treatment of adult uveitis and other intraocular exudative and proliferative disorders.^5-13 Higher vitreous concentration of TA can be achieved through the IV route as compared with delivery to the periocular space.¹⁴ In this study, we describe our experience with the use of IVTA in a series of children with CME secondary to noninfectious uveitis.