New eye injection method being tested

Medication injections into the eye (intravitreal injections), such as those that are performed for wet macular degeneration, come with a host of possible serious complications such as vitreous hemorrhage, and retinal detachment. A new method of delivery has been developed that involves injections into the suprachoroidal space [see Diagram below] which is between the sclera and choroid as opposed to injecting into the vitreous chamber. This new method of delivery avoids the aforementioned risks. Phase II¬†clinical trials were just completed¬†using injections of triamcinolone acetonide to treat 22 patients with macular edema associated with noninfectious uveitis. Participants only received one treatment and at the end of the 8-week study, patients saw significant statistical difference in their baseline central subfield thickness. Encouraged by these initial results, additional patients who have macular edema have been enrolled in a separate Phase III trial, and researchers will test the triamcinolone formulation along with an injected VEGF inhibitor to treat macular edema associated with retinal vein occlusion with the hopes of securing an Investigational New Drug approval for treating AMD.*