Vision Loss Secondary to Facial and Periorbital Steroid Injection: A Systematic Review

Central Retinal Artery Occlusion Following Intralesional Triamcinolone Injection for IgG4-related Orbital Disease

The risk of blindness associated with periocular and facial injections is well documented. Previous cases describing vision loss following a recent periocular or facial injection have emphasized the importance of facial "danger zones." To date, the literature suggests that nearly half of all cases of central retinal artery occlusion in the setting of a recent periocular or facial injection involve an injection in or around the nose. Here, the authors report the second known case of central retinal artery occlusion following a triamcinolone injection to the lacrimal gland. A 30-year-old female with a diagnosis of IgG4-related disease underwent lacrimal gland debulking with an intralesional steroid injection. She noted OD vision loss immediately after surgery, with posterior segment examination demonstrating retinal whitening with a cherry-red spot and intra-arterial yellow-white plaques. This case serves as a reminder to clinicians regarding the risk of iatrogenic embolism following triamcinolone injections around the face with special attention drawn to the lacrimal gland.

Ipsilateral, Multi-Phasic Retinal Vascular Events following Intralesional Triamcinolone Acetonide Injection for Earlobe Keloid: A Case Report

Introduction

Intralesional triamcinolone acetonide is a widely used treatment for scarring skin conditions such as keloid and is known to have retinal vascular complications if administered in the periocular region.

Case Presentation

A 32-year-old female experienced a prompt onset transient vision decrease and a delayed onset, slow-resolving vison loss in the right eye (OD) following the last of a series of triamcinolone acetonide corticosteroid (TAC) injections in her right earlobe for a disfiguring keloid. Clinically, she developed a branch retinal arterial occlusion accompanied by features of a central retinal vein occlusion. The TAC particles that entered the retinal circulation are implicated in the thrombo-embolic occlusion of the branch retinal artery and subsequent blockage of the central retinal vein.

Conclusion

This case should alert clinicians that there is always a potential hazard for retinal vascular occlusion when corticosteroid is injected in the region of the head and face because of the rich anastomoses between the external and internal carotid artery circulations.

Local Betamethasone Versus Triamcinolone Injection In Management of Thyroid Eye Disease-Related Upper Eyelid Retraction With Proptosis

PURPOSE

To compare the efficacy of local injection of both betamethasone and triamcinolone in the management of thyroid eye disease-related upper eyelid retraction with proptosis.

METHODS

This prospective, double-blind, randomized clinical trial was conducted at Assiut University Hospital, Upper Egypt in the period between December 2021 and December 2023. The study included 45 patients (77 eyes) and was divided into: A (betamethasone) group and B (triamcinolone) group. The steroid was injected peri-levator (1 ml) and retrobulbar (1.5 ml). The injection was repeated every month for up to 5 injections if there was an improvement in margin reflex distance 1 (MRD1) and Hertel measurements. The injection was stopped if measurements reached the normal value or if 2 successive injections caused no improvement. The postinjection outcome was divided into; 1) effective if measurements reached the normal (MRD1 ≤4.5 mm and Hertel ≤18 mm); 2) partially effective if measurements were improved but did not reach the normal; and 3) ineffective if there was no improvement in measurements. The follow-up ranged from 6 to 20 months.

RESULTS

In group A, the injection was effective in 35 eyes (89.74%) and partially effective in 4 eyes (10.26%). In group B, the injection was effective in 22 eyes (57.9%), partially effective in 8 eyes (21.05%) and ineffective in 8 eyes (21.05%). The mean injection number was significantly lower in group A than in group B; 2.54 ± 0.51 versus 3.74 ± 1.18.

CONCLUSIONS

This study's results suggest that betamethasone is more effective with a small number of injections than triamcinolone in the management of thyroid eye disease-related upper eyelid retraction with proptosis.

Peri-levator Betamethasone Versus Triamcinolone Injection in Management of Thyroid Eye Disease-related Upper Eyelid Retraction Without Proptosis

PURPOSE

To compare the efficacy of peri-levator injection of both betamethasone and triamcinolone in the management of thyroid eye disease-related upper eyelid retraction without proptosis.

METHODS

This prospective, double-blind, randomized clinical trial was conducted at Assiut University Hospital, Upper Egypt in the period between December 2021 and October 2023. The study included 47 patients (56 eyes) and was divided into 2 groups. In group A, 1 ml betamethasone was injected into the peri-levator area, while in group B, 1 ml triamcinolone was injected. The injection was repeated every month for up to 5 injections if there was an improvement in margin reflex distance 1 (MRD1). The injection was stopped if MRD1 reached the normal value or if 2 successive injections caused no improvement in MRD1. The postinjection outcome was divided into: 1) effective if MRD1 reached the normal ≤4.5 mm; 2) partially effective if MRD1 was improved but did not reach the normal; and 3) ineffective if there was no improvement in MRD1. The follow up ranged from 6 to 20 months.

RESULTS

In group A, the injection was effective in 26 eyes (92.9%) and partially effective in 2 eyes (7.1%). In group B, the injection was effective in 17 eyes (60.7%), partially effective in 6 eyes (21.4%), and ineffective in 5 eyes (17.9%). The mean number of injections was significantly lower in group A than in group B: 1.61 ± 0.50 versus 2.36 ± 1.16.

CONCLUSIONS

This study results suggest that betamethasone is more effective with a smaller number of injections than triamcinolone in the management of thyroid eye disease-related upper eyelid retraction.

Eyeing Risks: A Critical Analysis of the Use of Periorbital Steroids in Fronto-orbital Advancement

ObjectiveTo evaluate the outcomes associated with two techniques of periorbital steroid administration in bilateral fronto-orbital advancement (FOA).DesignMulti-institutional retrospective chart reviewSettingTwo high volume, tertiary US craniofacial centersPatients, ParticipantsPatients who underwent FOA between 2012 and 2021InterventionsPatients were divided into three cohorts based on method of steroid administration. Groups GEL and INJ represent those who received steroids in the form of triamcinolone soaked gelfoam or direct injection of dilute triamcinolone to the frontal/periorbital region, respectively. Group NON did not receive any periorbital steroids.Main Outcome Measure(s)Peri-operative outcomes including hospital length of stay and complications were evaluated based on method of periorbital steroid administration. Variables predictive of infectious complications were assessed using stepwise logistic regression.ResultsFour hundred and twelve patients were included in our sample (INJ:249, GEL:87, NON:76). Patients in the INJ group had a higher ASA class (P < .001) while patients in the NON group were significantly more likely to be syndromic (P < .001) and have multisuture craniosynostosis (P < .001). Rate of infectious complications for each cohort were NON: 2.6%, INJ: 4.4%, and GEL: 10.3%. There was no significant difference between groups in hospital length of stay (P = .654) or rate of post-operative infectious complications (P = .061). Increased ASA class (P = .021), increased length of stay (P = .016), and increased intraoperative narcotics (P = .011) were independent predictors of infectious complications.ConclusionsWe identified a dose-dependent relationship between periorbital steroids and rate of postoperative infections, with key contributions from ASA class, hospital length of stay, and dose of intraoperative narcotics.

Orbital corticosteroid injections for the treatment of active thyroid eye disease

Purpose

To study the efficacy of orbital injections of triamcinolone acetonide mixed 1:1 with dexamethasone in the treatment of active thyroid eye disease.

Methods

Patients that received orbital injection(s) of triamcinolone acetonide mixed 1:1 with dexamethasone for thyroid eye disease were included in this retrospective study. Demographic and clinical data were collected from the pre-treatment and 1 month follow up evaluations. Clinical data included subjective pain and diplopia scores, best-corrected visual acuity, Intraocular pressure, extraocular motility, clinical activity score, Hertel exophthalmometry, and upper eyelid margin to reflex distance.

Results

Fifteen patients, 33 orbital injections, were included in the study. The average patient age was 59.2 years (SD ± 13.0) and 89% female. Subjectively, 67% of patients reported improvement of orbital pain and pressure versus 28% stable and 5% worse (p <0.001). Post-procedure clinical activity score decreased from 3.84 to 3.00 (p = 0.0004). There were no significant differences in upper eyelid margin to reflex distance (4.1 ± 1.4 mm vs. 4.3 ± 2.6 mm, p = 0.45), Hertel exophthalmometry (21.7 ± 9.4 mm vs. 21.8 ± 7.6 mm, p = 0.56), or extraocular motility (21% improved vs. 72% stable and 7% worsening, p = 0.50). No steroid-responsive increases in intraocular pressure or injection-related complications were reported.

Conclusion

Orbital steroid injections can successfully reduce symptoms of TED and may be a reliable tool in the treatment of TED as a relatively safe, fast-acting, efficacious treatment option, particularly as a bridge to other therapies.

The Lowly Chalazion

Chalazia are localized cysts of chronic lipogranulomatous inflammation arising from the obstruction of sebaceous glands of the eyelid tarsal plate, including the Meibomian gland (deep chalazion) or Zeis gland (superficial chalazion). This disease entity is differentiated from the hordeolum (stye), an acute purulent localized swelling of the eyelid often associated with an eyelash follicle, Zeis gland, or Moll gland obstruction and infection. Ambiguously, the chalazion, hordeolum, and blepharitis are commonly categorized and described on a continuum in the literature. While it is one of the most common eyelid disorders across all age demographics, the chalazion remains largely understudied and pathophysiological, epidemiological, and therapeutic findings exist fragmented in the literature. We discuss current understandings of the chalazion and provide current best practice guidelines supported by clinical anecdotal evidence.