Evaluation of patient age as a risk factor for intraocular pressure elevation after intravitreal triamcinolone.

PURPOSE To evaluate the effect of patient age on intraocular pressure (IOP) response after intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA). DESIGN Interventional case series. METHODS A total of 164 outpatients (164 eyes) aged 21 to 80 years (mean, 56.8 years), presenting with exudative age-related maculopathy (51) or macular edema of various etiologies (113), received IVTA (4 mg/0.1 ml). The primary outcome measure was IOP elevation >21 mm Hg. Patients were re-evaluated at one week, and one, three, and six months. RESULTS The mean baseline IOP was 15.07 mm Hg; the mean rise was 6.6 mm Hg. IOP >21 mm Hg was observed in 42 (25.6%) patients. In the age group </=45 years, IOP rise occurred in 45% (14/31) patients, compared with 21% (28/133) of older patients (P = .006). The groups were similar in baseline IOP, IOP rise, mean time-lag to maximum IOP, and response to treatment. CONCLUSIONS IVTA caused more frequent IOP elevation in younger patients; other aspects of IOP response and its treatment were similar to older patients.