To compare the effect of an intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide with bevacizumab in the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME).

For this study, the medical records of patients with diabetic macular edema, who received intravitreal triamcinolone injection (IVTA) or intravitreal bevacizumab injection (IVB), were reviewed. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT) and total macular volume (TMV) were evaluated before injection and at 1 week, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, and 6 months after injection. The adverse events, such as increased intraocular pressure, and progression of cataract, were also reviewed.

A total of 72 eyes from 72 patients, (IVTA: 40 eyes, IVB: 32 eyes) were included in this study. In the IVTA group, BCVA improved significantly at 1 week after injection and was maintained until 3 months after injection. In the IVB group, BCVA improved significantly at 1 week after injection and was maintained until 2 months after injection. In the IVTA group, CMT and TMV decreased significantly at 1 week after injection and were maintained until 3 months after injection, while in the IVB group CMT and TMV were maintained until 2 months after injection. The IVTA group showed significantly better results in visual improvement, CMT and TMV reduction compared to the results of the IVB group, from 1 month to 3 months after injection. In the IVTA group, intraocular pressure increased to more than 25 mmHg in 12.5% of patients during the follow-up period.

While the functional and anatomical improvements are achieved by both IVTA and IVB for diabetic macular edema, the effect of IVTA is more prominent with longer duration than IVB.