Early Effects of Dexamethasone Implant on Macular Morphology and Visual Function in Patients with Macular Edema Secondary to Retinal Vein Occlusion

Purpose: To evaluate the early effects of the intravitreal erodible dexamethasone implant Ozurdex in patients with macular edema due to retinal vein occlusion (RVO). Methods: Eyes with macular edema due to RVO were prospectively included in the study and received a 700-mu g dexamethasone implant. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) measurement, complete ophthalmic evaluation and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography were performed at baseline and 1, 2, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 60, and 90 days after treatment. Results: Nineteen eyes of 18 patients were included in the study. Mean central retinal thickness (CRT) decreased rapidly after treatment (p < 0.0001) from 503 mu m at baseline to 288 mu m after 1 day and 199 mu m at the end of the follow-up. BCVA gained on average +6 ETDRS letters after 1 day and +11 letters at day 90 (p = 0.0001). Conclusion: The intravitreal dexamethasone implant showed a fast effect in reducing CRT and improving BCVA in RVO patients. (C) 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel