<b>COMPARISON OF EFFICACY OF 4mg VERSUS 2mg SUPRACHOROIDAL INJECTION TRIAMCINOLONE ACETONIDE IN THE TREATMENT OF DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA</b>

Background: One of the primary causes of blindness in working-age diabetics worldwide is macular edema, which is a consequence of diabetic retinopathy. In individuals with diabetes mellitus, diabetic macular edema is a primary cause of vision deterioration that affects the central macula. In cases where anti-vascular endothelial growth factor medications are ineffective, intravitreal Bevacizumab alone or in combination with intravitreal Triamcinolone Acetonide have been employed as therapeutic modalities. Objective: To compare the mean change in CMT of suprachoroidal injection triamcinolone acetonide at a dosage of 4 mg with that of 2 mg in the treatment of diabetic macular oedema. Methodology: This was a randomized controlled trial conducted at department of ophthalmology Unit II, Mayo Hospital Lahore. A total of 78 patients were enrolled in this study after fulfilling inclusion criteria. Subsequently, the patients were randomly divided into two groups, Group A (39 patients) and Group B (39 patients), using a random number table. Group A received 4mg of suprachoroidal triamcinolone acetonide, and Group B received 2mg of suprachoroidal triamcinolone acetonide. Basic demographic information, including names, ages, and gender, involved eye (left / right), HbA1c levels and visual acuity was recorded. All data collected undergone analysis using SPSS version 27.0. Results: The mean age of the cases in group A was 43.28 ± 2.66 while in group B was 43.62 ± 2.93.  There were 19 (48.7%) males and 20 (51.3%) females were enrolled in group A. Similarly, there were 16 (41%) male and 23 (59%) females were enrolled in group B The mean cmt before treatment in group A was 553.67 ± 34.86 while in group B was 526.31 ± 14.90 with significant p-value < 0.01. However, the mean CMT after treatment found insignificant p-value 0.412. Difference from initial CMT was also found insignificant p-value 0.122. Conclusion: Both 4mg and 2mg of suprachoroidal have similar effects in reducing central macular thickness in patients of diabetic macular edema.