Early complications of dexamethasone intravitreal implant in diabetic macular edema patients.

Author: Almudena Moreno Martínez (Spain)

Co-authors: Sergio Copete Piqueras, Francisco López Martínez, Antonio Donate Tercero, Eva María González Aquino, Carlos Cava Valenciano, Cristina Blanco Marchite

Purpose

To assess early complications outcomes of intravitreal dexamethasone implant in eyes with diabetic macular edema (DME).

Setting/Venue

Department of Ophthalmology. Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete (CHUA), Spain.

Methods

Retrospective real-world study conducted on consecutive DME patients who underwent treatment with a dexamethasone implant injection and were controlled at 2 months. The spectral domain optical coherence tomography images were quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed. Subjects were divided in groups: naïve patients and previously treated eyes with antiVEGF injections. Primary endpoint were complications after dexamethasone implant.

Results

A total of 128 eyes (31 naïve) were finally included in the study. At baseline, there were no statistically significant differences between gender, best-corrected visual acuity, type of diabetes mellitus, DME subtype and state of the lens. At month 2, 43 (33.59%) eyes developed ocular hypertension (8 and 35 eyes in naïve and previously treated, respectively) after dexamethasone implant (p=0.42). Ocular hypertension was defined as a single measurement of ≥25 mmHg, or an increase of ≥10 mmHg from baseline. It was no necessary glaucoma surgery. There were association between ocular hypertension and diabetic retinopathy grade, presence of disorganization of the inner retinal layers and the ellipsoid zone and/or external limiting membrane alterations with statistically significant differences (p=0.002, p=0.008 and p=0.02, respectively).

Conlusions

Complications after dexamethasone implant are similar in both groups. Ocular hypertension increases in patients with advanced diabetic retinopathy.

Financial Disclosure

We have no financial interests.