Kenalog injection after cataract surgery

[Linda6198]

I have retinitis pigmentosa and a history of mild CME in my left eye which is contorlled with Acetazolmide. I had cataract surgery in my left eye two days ago. After surgery my eye appeared clear and normal. At my next day check-up I was injected in that eye with kenalog, to help prevent the reoccurance of CME. Now, my eye is very red, weepy and appears to have a liquid film in front of the pupil. My vision does not seem to be effected. Is this a normal side effect? I'm scheduled to have the cataract in the right eye removed in 3 weeks. I have never had CME in this eye. I'm considering refusing the kenalog injection in it. It is my best vison eye and I'm afraid it might be too much of a risk. Am I being an alarmist?

[Flavius G Pernoud III, MD]

Linda, Kenalog is a long lasting "cortisone". It's possible that your surgeon injected Kenalog in the eye but I doubt it. He or she probably injected it just under the thin conjunctival membrane which swells very easily with injection and it would be common that a blood vessel would break causing the eye to look as if it were painted red. This would be no danger. However, I would contact your surgeon. If there was an intraocular injection, there could be some risk of infection which would be very dangerous.

[russell903]

I had Kenalog injected in my left eye, to try to reduce macular edema.  That was 5 weeks ago.  Since then I have had more and more blurring in that eye, and my vitreous seems to be more and more liquid.  Are these typical reactions to Kenalog?  If not what are reactions I would notice to be damaging from Kenalog?  Russell903