Rapid reduction of hard exudates in eyes with diabetic retinopathy after intravitreal triamcinolone: data from a randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial

To assess the effect of triamcinolone acetonide over 3 months on hard exudates in patients with diabetic macular oedema (DMO). Thirty-two eyes of 16 patients with DMO and hard exudates were included in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Treated eyes received a single-dose (4 mg) intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide. Control eyes received an injection of subconjunctival saline. The overall area of hard exudates decreased significantly between the baseline and 3-month visits in treated eyes, but not in control eyes. The mean change in level of hard exudates between the two visits was - 0.75 arbitrary units (AU) (95% confidence interval [CI] - 1.32 to - 0.18) in the central plus inner circle (1500 mu m) and - 0.81 AU (95% CI - 1.49 to - 0.13) over the whole grid (3000 mu m) in treated eyes, compared with 0.31 AU (95% CI - 0.19 to 0.82) and 0.31 AU (95% CI - 0.11 to 0.74), respectively, in control eyes (p < 0.001). Mean visual acuity improved by five letters in treated but not in control eyes (p = 0.01). Intravitreal triamcinolone reduces hard exudates in the short-term in eyes with DMO.