Serous macular detachment as a predictor of resolution of macular edema with intravitreal triamcinolone injection.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE To evaluate serous macular detachment as a predictor for response of macular edema to intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide. PATIENTS AND METHODS Sixteen eyes (16 patients) with macular edema and serous macular detachment secondary to diabetic retinopathy (n = 11) or branch vein occlusion (n = 5) were prospectively enrolled. After intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection (4 mg/0.1 mL), they were reevaluated at 1 week and 1 and 3 months. The main outcome measure was change in central macular thickness. RESULTS The mean baseline central macular thickness was 651.13 +/- 245.96 microm. One month after intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection, central macular thickness decreased to 255.38 +/- 80.64 microm (P < .0001). After 3 months, central macular thickness increased marginally to 329.69 +/- 161.98 microm, still significantly less than baseline (P < .0001). There was a significant correlation between the height of serous macular detachment and reduction in central macular thickness at 1 (r = .827) and 3 (r = .835) months (P< .0001). CONCLUSION When serous macular detachment coexists with vascular or microvascular macular edema, it responds to intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide in direct proportion to the height of the serous macular detachment. However, the response begins to fade by 3 months.