Abstract
Purpose:
To report the long-term outcome of the 0.7-mg dexamethasone drug delivery system (DEX-DDS) intravitreal injection for noninfectious uveitic macular edema.
Methods:
Retrospective study of eyes with noninfectious uveitic macular edema treated with DEX-DDS injection with at least 6 months follow-up time. Macular edema was diagnosed by clinical examination, fluorescein angiography and Heidelberg Spectralis spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Patients’ data were collected and included details of uveitis, ocular inflammation, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and SD-OCT at baseline and each visit during follow-up. Number of injections and potential complications were recorded.
Results:
8 eyes (7 patients) were included. One eye with anterior uveitis, six eyes with intermediate uveitis and one eye with panuveitis. Mean follow-up time was 17 months. In 1 eye the injection was given as adjunctive treatment. Macular edema resolved in all eyes, 3.9 weeks (range, 1-6.9) post injection. The mean BCVA improvement was 0.25 logMAR (p < 0.05), 3.9 weeks (range, 1-6.9) post injection. Central point thickness improved from 612 ±143 µ to 250 ±55 µ (p < 0.05). Macular edema did not recur in 5 eyes after a mean follow-up of 14.5 months. Macular edema relapsed in 3 eyes (2 patients) after a mean time of 4.7 months (range, 3.6-6.3). These patients had repeated injections; 1 patient had 2 injections and 1 patient had 4 injections with macular edema resolution. Two eyes had intraocular pressure elevation which was well controlled under topical treatment.
Conclusions:
Intravitreal DEX-DDS injections resulted in macular edema resolution and visual acuity improvement. Some eyes needed repeated injections, but most eyes achieved long-term resolution. No significant complications were noticed.
Keywords: 746 uveitis-clinical/animal model •
487 corticosteroids •
505 edema