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Intravitreal triamcinolone injections in non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy

  • Neurophthalmology
  • Published:
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Abstract

Background

In non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NA-AION), no treatments have demonstrated to be effective in recovering visual loss in randomized clinical trials. Oral steroids have been evaluated, and small series of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA) injection in NA-AION have been reported. The purpose of our study was to report the visual outcome and morphological changes in response to a single IVTA injection as a treatment for patients with NA-AION.

Patients and methods

The charts of 36 patients with visual symptoms and optic disc swelling caused by NA-AION were evaluated. Twenty-one patients had received 4 mg IVTA and were compared with 15 non-treated patients. Visual acuity (VA), retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and static visual field were evaluated after 6 months.

Results

VA improvement at 6 months is statistically better in the treated group than in the non-treated group (p = 0.0035). In the treated group, there was a significant inverse correlation between the delay of the injection and the visual acuity achieved at 6 months (p < 0.0083**, r = −0.56). A significant improvement of the visual field was noted in the injected group when compared with the non-treated group at 6 months (p < 0.0028).

Discussion

In this retrospective study, patients receiving IVTA in the acute phase of NA-AION have better improvement of VA and visual field during the follow-up period of 6 months. However, only a large randomized controlled trial may enable to evaluate the benefits of IVTA Injections on visual outcome in NA-AION.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MD, Department of Ophthalmology, Robert Debré University Hospital, Reims, France

    Corina Radoi, Tony Garcia, Catherine Brugniart, Alain Ducasse & Carl Arndt

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  1. Corina Radoi
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  2. Tony Garcia
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  3. Catherine Brugniart
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  4. Alain Ducasse
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  5. Carl Arndt
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Correspondence to Carl Arndt.

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Radoi, C., Garcia, T., Brugniart, C. et al. Intravitreal triamcinolone injections in non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 252, 339–345 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-013-2499-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-013-2499-9

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