Comparison of the Effect of Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implant in Vitrectomized and Nonvitrectomized Eyes for the Treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema

• Published in: Journal of ophthalmology Vol. 2018; no. 2018; pp. 1 - 8
• Main Authors: Akalp, Fatma Düriye, Tok-Çevik, Mediha, Yılmaz, Sami, Çevik, Sadık Gorkem, Avcı, Remzi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cairo, Egypt Hindawi Publishing Corporation 01-01-2018; Hindawi; John Wiley & Sons, Inc; Hindawi Limited
• Subjects: Age; Care and treatment; Cataracts; Central nervous system depressants; Comparative analysis; Dexamethasone; Diabetes; Diabetic retinopathy; Dropsy; Edema; Gene expression; Glaucoma; Lasers; Patients; Steroids; Surgery; Vascular endothelial growth factor
• ISSN: 2090-004X; 2090-0058
• DOI: 10.1155/2018/1757494

Purpose. To compare the effectiveness of sustained-release dexamethasone (DEX) intravitreal implant in nonvitrectomized eyes and vitrectomized eyes with diabetic macular edema (DME). Methods. A retrospective review of the medical records of 40 eyes of 30 consecutive patients with diabetic macular edema who underwent intravitreal DEX implant injection. Patients were divided into 2 subgroups: 31 eyes that were nonvitrectomized (group 1) and 9 eyes that had previously undergone standard pars plana vitrectomy (group 2). The main outcome measures were BCVA and foveal thickness (FT). Results. A significant improvement was seen in BCVA in both group 1 and group 2 at the 1st, 2nd, and 6th months after treatment with DEX implant (p<0.05). In group 1, a significant reduction in FT was observed at the 1st, 2nd, and 6th months (p<0.05). In group 2, a significant reduction in FT was seen at the 1st and 2nd months (p<0.05), but the reduction rate at the 6th month after the injection was not statistically significant (p=0.06). Conclusion. DEX implant is effective for the treatment of diabetic macular edema, and the effectiveness of the drug is similar in vitrectomized and nonvitrectomized eyes.