Journal of Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology
Open Access
ISSN: 2155-9570
ISSN: 2155-9570
Ahmad Abdelnasser Mohammad, Gamal Hussain Hussain, Gamal Mahmoud Nouby and Hany Omar Elsedfy
Purpose: To assess the safety and efficacy of local steroid injection in the treatment of acute idiopathic orbital inflammation (AIOI).
Methods: This prospective non-comparative, interventional clinical study included 24 patients presented to the orbital outpatient clinic of Assiut University Hospital with AIOI in the period between April 2013 and April 2016. Diagnosis was based on the characteristic clinical and radiological picture after exclusion of other identifiable local or systemic causes. After a written consent, all patients were treated by local injection of 2-4 ml of a combined short and long acting steroid suspension under general anesthesia followed by a tight bandage and cold compression of 15 min were applied over the affected eye.
Results: Twenty out of the 24 patients (83.3%) have responded to local steroid injection with no recurrence for a follow up period ranging from 6-24 months (mean 11.06 months); 19 patients (79.2%) after a single injection and 1 patient (4.1%) after 2 injections. Three patients (12.6%) have responded to local steroid injection, but had a recurrent attack after a period of quiescence. They had complete cure after another injection with no recurrence within 6-9 months. One patient did not respond to the first steroid injection. She was advised to have a second injection but the patient refused and preferred the oral therapy. None of our patients suffered from any side effects except one who reported polyphagia and weight gaining following the injection.
Conclusions: Local steroid injection provides a safer and at least equally effective method in treating AIOI.