Intravitreal dexamethasone implant in patients with persistent macular edema of variable etiologies

To examine the effect of an intravitreal dexamethasone drug delivery system (DEX-DDS) in the treatment of persistent cystoid macular edema (CME) of different etiologies.

Thirty-seven eyes with persistent CME were treated with DEX-DDS and analyzed for changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and optical coherence tomography. Eyes were categorized into three groups: diabetic macular edema (DME, n = 14), vein occlusion (n = 15) and uveitis (n = 7).

The mean follow-up was 22 ± 6.9 weeks. BCVA improved from 0.62 ± 0.38 to 0.35 ± 0.29 logMAR (p < 0.0001). Central macular thickness decreased by 184 ± 246 µm from baseline (p < 0.0001). In eyes where CME resolved and recurred, the average CME-free period was 11 weeks. The uveitis group showed faster CME resolution (2 weeks) and a longer CME-free period (20 weeks). Similar efficacy was shown for repeat DEX-DDS injections. The safety profile was good.

DEX-DDS is beneficial in the treatment of persistent CME. In cases of uveitis, CME resolution is rapid, resulting in the longest effect duration, when compared with other CME etiologies.