Sir,
We would like to thank Dr Wilkins for his interest in our study.1 We do agree with him that the statistical basis of the study is relatively weak. As he pointed out, multiple comparisons were performed so that Bonferoni's method to correct for multiple comparisons might have been necessary. On the other hand, the number of patients in the study group was rather low (n=10), despite of which the difference in visual acuity between baseline measurement and measurement at 1 month after injection was marginally significant (P=0.027). Additionally, he difference between visual acuity at baseline of the study and the best visual acuity during follow-up was significant in the study group, but not in the control group. Furthermore, the study fits with other investigations on the intravitreal use of triamcinolone acetonide for a number of diseases associated with cystoid macular oedema including branch retinal vein occlusion.2, 3, 4 In all of these studies, a decrease in macular oedema, and in most of the studies, an increase in visual acuity was observed. In conclusion, we appreciate very much Dr Wilkins' comments and consider the present study as a precursor of ongoing randomized controlled trials on intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide as treatment of retinal vein occlusions.
References
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Jonas, J., Akkoyun, I., Kamppeter, B. et al. Reply to intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide as treatment of branch retinal vein occlusion. Eye 20, 728 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.eye.6701953
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.eye.6701953