INCIDENCE OF NONINFECTIOUS ENDOPHTHALMITIS AFTER INTRAVITREAL INJECTION OF PRESERVATIVE-FREE TRIAMCINOLONE ACETONIDE

In Brief Purpose: To determine the incidence of noninfectious inflammatory endophthalmitis after preservative-free intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (PF-IVTA) injection. Patients and Methods: We performed a retrospective interventional case series, reviewing the medical records of all patients receiving PF-IVTA injection from July 1, 2006, through December 31, 2006; 444 patients were identified who received a total of 502 PF-IVTA injections. Demographic information and details of postinjection inflammation or endophthalmitis were collected. Results: Eleven eyes (2.2%) of 11 patients (2.5%) had an inflammatory reaction after PF-IVTA injection. Complete obscuration of all fundus details was observed in seven eyes, while moderate inflammation was noted in four eyes. An inflammatory hypopyon, thought not to represent particles of triamcinolone, was seen in eight eyes. The indication for IVTA injection was cystoid macular edema in seven eyes. Conclusions: Postinjection inflammatory reactions are not uncommon after PF-IVTA injection. Noninfectious endophthalmitis after IVTA injection appears to be more common in eyes being treated for cystoid macular edema. The authors performed a retrospective interventional case series, reviewing the medical records of all patients receiving preservative-free IVTA from July 1, 2006 through December 31, 2006.