Abstract
Purpose :
Purpose: To evaluate prospectively the short term efficacy of intravitreal dexamethasone implant (IDI) in patients with macular edema (ME) measuring central macular thickness (CMT) and visual acuity modification up to one month. Secondary endpoints were the evaluation of choroidal thickness and the safety of the drug in terms of intraocular pressure and other ocular and systemic side effects.
Methods :
Methods: In this prospective study, the authors observed 15 consecutive patients affected by retinal vascular diseases (diabetes, retinal vein occlusion) and macular edema (central macular thickness more than 300μ) treated by intravitreal injection of long release intravitreal dexamethasone (Ozurdex ™). Fifteen eyes of 15 consecutive patients were included in the study. Central macular thickness and choroidal thickness were evaluated by enhanced depth optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT). EDI-OCT, intraocular pressure (IOP) and best correct visual acuity (BCVA) were reported at baseline and after 3, 6, 24 hours, and then after 1 week and 1 month later.
Results :
Results: We observed a reduction in CMT since the first measurement, after 3 hours from the injection and progressively continuing along at the next follow up, to one months. Choroidal thicknesses showed no significant changes from the baseline visit to the last follow up 1 month later post-injection (P > 0.05). Visual acuity gain shows a correlation with the reduction of CMT. We found a significant increase of BCVA after 3, 24 hours, 1 and 4 weeks of treatment. One month after IDI, CRT was 296,7 ± 109,9 and was significantly lower compared with pretreatment value 506,7 ± 143,1. No significant change in IOP after the treatment was observed. Secondary endpoint: nor systemic neither ocular side effects were noticed.
Conclusions :
Conclusion: The reduction in central macular thickness is appreciated as early as 3 hours after the injection of intravitreal Ozurdex with progressively reduction during the follow up of the study (up to one month). Choroidal thickness measurement seemed to be unchanged after IDI from baseline to end of study. No differences was observed between the group of DME and RVO. The study shows the early effect of IDI and it confirms the safety profile of the drug.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2017 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Baltimore, MD, May 7-11, 2017.