Does Adjuvant Intracameral Triamcinolone Acetonide Increase the Effectiveness of Phacotrabeculectomy? A Case-Control Study

Abstract

Aims: To investigate the effect of intracameral triamcinolone acetonide (TA) on surgical success in 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) supported primary phacotrabeculectomy (PT) cases. Material and Methods: This retrospective study included 23 eyes (study group) of 23 patients who underwent TA during PT and 26 eyes (control group) of 26 patients without TA. PT patients in the study group received 1 mg TA intraoperatively at the end of surgery. Pre- and postoperative visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), and number of antiglaucoma drugs used were compared. Postoperative complications and need for 5-FU injection were evaluated for both groups. Results: Mean age was 64.1 2 ± 1.91 (48–86) years in the control group and 66.52 ± 2.02 (52–86) years in the study group (p = 0.824). Comparison of pre- and postoperative IOP values showed significant decreases in postoperative IOP levels at all-time points in both the control and study groups (p < 0.001). The only significant difference between groups was on postoperative first day (study group: 9.22 ± 1.41 mmHg; control group: 6.35 ± 2.17 mmHg, p < 0.001). Need for postoperative 5-FU injection was significantly more common in the control group (p = 0.023). Conclusion: Intracameral injection of 1 mg TA at the end of PT surgery did not yield superior results in postoperative IOP compared to PT alone, and the two groups showed similar IOP reduction. When given as an adjunct to PT, 1 mg TA suppresses anterior segment inflammation and reduces the need for 5-FU injection.