Article

Triamcinolone monotherapy loses favor as potential AMD treatment

In the new treatment era for exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) heralded by the availability of locally administered anti-VEGF drugs, intravitreal monotherapy with triamcinolone injection may no longer be considered as a current therapy for this neovascular condition, said Jost Jonas, MD, at the World Ophthalmology Congress.

In the new treatment era for exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) heralded by the availability of locally administered anti-VEGF drugs, intravitreal monotherapy with triamcinolone injection may no longer be considered as a current therapy for this neovascular condition, said Jost Jonas, MD, at the World Ophthalmology Congress.

Dr. Jonas of the University of Heidelberg, Germany, reviewed the results of studies investigating the efficacy and safety of intravitreal triamcinolone that demonstrated the treatment resulted in benefits in some patients, but also afforded no positive effect for an appreciable proportion, while being associated with high rates of adverse events.

Intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation, occurring in about 40% of eyes, and IOP has risen to frighteningly high levels in some cases. In addition, about 15% to 20% of the older population treated required cataract surgery within 1 year of receiving intravitreal triamcinolone and while serious complications, such as infectious endophthalmitis, have been rare, they did occur and the cumulative rate would be expected to increase with repeated injections.

"Intravitreal triamcinolone may still be a treatment option for a number of intraocular edemas, proliferative, and neovascular diseases, but exudative AMD probably no longer belongs on that list. For AMD, intravitreal triamcinolone may still be used in combination with verteporfin (Visudyne) photodynamic therapy (PDT). However, it remains to be seen whether intravitreal triamcinolone plus PDT may be replaced by anti-VEGF therapy plus PDT or triple therapy with intravitreal triamcinolone plus anti-VEGF therapy plus PDT," said Dr. Jonas.

Newsletter

Don’t miss out—get Ophthalmology Times updates on the latest clinical advancements and expert interviews, straight to your inbox.

Related Videos
(Image credit: Ophthalmology Times) 50 years of ophthalmology: What changed the game (Part 2)
(Image credit: Ophthalmology Times) 50 years of ophthalmology: What changed the game? (Part 1)
(Image credit: Ophthalmology Times) From MIGS to gene therapy: Inder Paul Singh, MD, celebrates the past and future of glaucoma care
(Image credit: Ophthalmology Times) NeuroOp Guru: Using OCT to forecast outcomes in ethambutol optic neuropathy
(Image credit: Ophthalmology Times) Inside NYEE’s new refractive solutions center with Kira Manusis, MD
(Image credit: Ophthalmology Times) Dilsher Dhoot, MD, on the evolution of geographic atrophy therapy: where are we now?
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.