Impact of intraoperative 3 mg triamcinolone acetonide injection on visual rehabilitation and inflammation control in uveitic cataract patients undergoing small-incision cataract surgery

PURPOSE: The study assesses the effectiveness and safety of low-dose (3 mg) intraoperative intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA) in managing postoperative inflammation and promoting early visual rehabilitation in patients with uveitic cataracts. METHODS: This was a prospective, interventional, and comparative study that included a total of 30 patients with uveitic cataracts, who were divided into two groups. A control group that did not receive the IVTA injection and an IVTA group that received the intravitreal injection at the end of surgery. Results were monitored over 12 months. The evaluated outcomes comprised best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT), intraocular pressure (IOP), anterior chamber inflammatory response, endothelial cell count (ECC), and any postoperative adverse events. RESULTS: At 12 months, the IVTA group demonstrated a marked improvement in mean logMAR BCVA from 1.74 ± 0.42 to 0.27 ± 0.17, compared with 0.52 ± 0.19 in controls ( P < 0.05). Anterior chamber inflammation was better controlled in the IVTA group, although the difference was not statistically significant ( P > 0.05). No significant intergroup differences were noted in IOP or ECC. At 3 months, mean CMT measured 250.42 ± 32.41 µm in the IVTA group versus 258.25 ± 43.06 µm in controls ( P = 0.494). Postoperative complications were fewer in the IVTA group, with posterior capsule opacification (PCO) being the most frequent. CONCLUSION: About 3 mg triamcinolone acetonide (TA) is not only effective but also safe in reducing postoperative inflammation and promoting early visual recovery in uveitic cataract patients undergoing surgery.