Treatment of Non-infectious Uveitic Macular Edema with the Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implant

Abstract

Purpose: To describe the clinical outcome of phakic eyes with macular edema (ME) due to non-infectious uveitis treated with a dexamethasone intravitreal implant.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 41 eyes treated with a total of 58 dexamethasone intravitreal implants was conducted. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT) and complications data were collected.

Results: One month after the first implant, even as CRT improved significantly in most eyes (p<0.001), 31.7% showed no improvement in BCVA. At 6 months post-implantation, CRT and BCVA had deteriorated in up to 70% of patients. Thirteen eyes were re-implanted, with a similar effect to that of the first implant. Ocular hypertension developed in 36.2% of eyes, and three eyes had cataract surgery, all in eyes with repeated implants.

Conclusions: The dexamethasone intravitreal implant can be safely used to treat ME due to non-infectious uveitis, but with a limited and short effect on BCVA.

Keywords: Central retinal thickness; dexamethasone intravitreal implant; macular edema; uveitis; visual acuity.