Safety of Triamcinolone acetonide (TA)-assisted pars plana vitrectomy in macular hole surgery

Aim To evaluate whether Triamcinolone acetonide (TA)-assisted pars plana vitrectomy for visualisation of posterior hyaloid during macular hole surgery has any adverse effects on macular hole closure rate and intraocular pressure (IOP). Methods Case series comparing outcomes and adverse effects in patients who had surgery for macular holes with ILM peel, with and without the use of TA-assisted vitrectomy. Results During the study period, 29 patients had vitrectomy for macular holes. In 18 patients (group 1), TA was used intraoperatively to facilitate visualisation of the posterior hyaloid and in 11 patients (group 2) no TA was used. There was no statistically significant difference in the macular hole closure rates and the improvement in visual acuity between the two groups. No long-term increase in IOP was recorded in any of the 29 patients. The total anatomical success rate in both groups was 85.6% and the average improvement in visual acuity in both groups was two Snellen lines. Conclusions TA is safe and there is no contraindication for its use as an intraoperative aid to facilitate vitreous visualisation in macular hole surgery.