Purpose: To survey the clinical responses to treatment of chronic postoperative and uveitic cystoid macular edema (CME) with a dexamethasone-based intravitreal implant (Ozurdex(®)).
Methods: This retrospective, interventional case series reports on patients with chronic CME after uncomplicated vitrectomy for epiretinal gliosis or phacoemulsification (group 1: 12 eyes) or secondary to noninfectious endogenous uveitis (group 2: 36 eyes). Central retinal thickness (CRT), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA, logMAR), and intraocular pressure (IOP) throughout follow-up were gleaned from the medical records.
Results: In group 1, CRT decreased, compared with baseline, from 519 ± 43 to 297 ± 23 and 356 ± 49 μm by the 1- and 3-month visit (P = 0.02) and to 429 ± 57 μm before reimplantation. In group 2, CRT decreased from 460 ± 31 to 300 ± 21 and 312 ± 26 μm by the 1- and 3-month follow-up, respectively (P = 0.001), and to 373 ± 32 μm before reimplantation. Complete resolution of CME was achieved in 67% and 94% (groups 1 and 2, respectively) by 1 month and in 42% and 80% by 3 months after injection. In group 1, BCVA improved from 0.46 ± 0.08 to 0.27 ± 0.09 and 0.20 ± 0.06 (P = 0.01) by the 1- and 3-month follow-up, respectively, and to 0.32 ± 0.08 before reimplantation. In group 2, BCVA improved from 0.47 ± 0.06 to 0.34 ± 0.09, 0.26 ± 0.07, and 0.29 ± 0.08 (P < 0.05) at 1 and 3 months of follow-up and before reimplantation, respectively. A significant IOP increase was not observed in either group. Mean time to reimplantation of Ozurdex was 6.4 ± 5.7 and 6.6 ± 3.4 months for postoperative and uveitic CME, respectively.
Conclusion: Ozurdex seems to achieve a sustained effect over up to 6 months in postsurgical and uveitic CME.