Abstract
Purpose:
To evaluate the safety of dexamethasone intravitreal implant (DEX implant; OZURDEX, Allergan, Inc., Irvine, CA) in eyes with vision loss due to macular edema (ME) associated with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) or central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO).
Methods:
The patients with macular edema secondary to CRVO or BRVO treated with Ozurdex were enrolled to the study. All injections were performed in the operation room. In all cases, the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) measured using a standardized Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study protocol. The presence of nuclear, cortical, and posterior subcapsular lens opacities was evaluated during the slit-lamp examination and assessed using standardized photographs. Baseline and follow-up intraocular pressures (IOP) measured by applanation tonometry and dilated funduscopy were performed. Patients were evaluated at baseline and days 1, 7, 30, 60, and 90 posttreatment.
Results:
Eighteen eyes of 18 patients were enrolled in the study. 8 patients (44.4 %) had CRVO and 10 patients (55.6 %) had BRVO. The female to male ratio was 1:2.6 and the mean age of patients was 57,39 (±13,1) years. 88 % of the patients were phakic. Conjunctival hemorrhage (16.6 %) was the most common ocular adverse event. One patient had minimal vitreous hemorrhage. Percentage of the patients, who receive anti glaucomatous medication increased from 5.55 % to 22.2 % by 90th day. All eyes with IOP increase were successfully managed with single topical anti glaucomatous medication. Changes in IOP peaked at 60th day and average intraocular pressure was 18.5 mm Hg. Total cataract frequency during the study (including cortical, nuclear, and subcapsular) was 11.1 % (3/18). No systemic adverse event were observed.
Conclusions:
It is a safe option to treat the patients with intravitreal dexamethasone implant who has macular edema due to retinal vein occlusion.