Triamcinolone InjectionsTriamcinolone Injections for Persistent Choroidal Effusions Post Glaucoma Surgery

During glaucoma surgery, a new opening is created that allows fluid to drain out of the eye, bypassing the clogged drainage channels that are malfunctioning in patients with glaucoma. In some patients who have had glaucoma surgery too much fluid flows out and this results in a pressure that is too low. This may cause swelling of one layer at the back of the eye called the choroid. The formation of this swelling, called a choroidal effusion or "choroidal", often makes the eye pressure stay too low, and one of the results is a decrease in vision. The treatment for a choroidal effusion is to try to raise the eye pressure somewhat to allow the swelling to subside. In our clinical work, we have found that an injection with an anti-inflammatory drug called triamcinolone appears to be helpful in speeding up healing. We plan to compare two groups of patients with choroidal effusions, one group that gets an injection of triamcinolone and one that gets a "sham" treatment with nothing injected and compare the length of time it takes the choroidal effusions to disappear. Both groups receive the standard treatment with eye drops. We will also assess the outcome of the glaucoma surgery and any other complications that may occur. This research is aimed at studying a new method of improving the outcomes of surgery for glaucoma patients, and further the treatment of glaucoma.