The effect of an intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection for acute nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy.

Author(s): Sohn BJ, Chun BY, Kwon JY

Affiliation(s): Department of Ophthalmology, Kyungpook National University, School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.

Publication date & source: 2009-03, Korean J Ophthalmol., 23(1):59-61. Epub 2009 Mar 9.

Publication type: Case Reports

The purpose of this case report is to evaluate the visual outcome of an intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection (IVTA) as a treatment for a patient with acute nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). A 65-year-old male patient with severe visual loss due to acute NAION was treated with 4 mg/0.1 mL IVTA. Fundus examination and measurements of the patient's best-corrected visual acuity and visual field were performed before and after the injection at 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. The best-corrected visual acuity changed from 0.05 before the injection to 0.16 at 2 weeks, 0.3 at 1 month, and 0.4 at 3 months and at the final visit. Optic disc swelling had markedly decreased at 1 week postoperatively and disappeared at 2 weeks after the injection. The clinical course of this patient suggests that an IVTA may be effective in increasing visual acuity following an acute NAION. A large randomized controlled trial is needed to assess the efficacy of IVTA as a treatment for NAION.