Does Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implant Fragmentation Affect Clinical Outcomes in Macular Edema from Branch Retinal...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of intravitreal dexamethasone implant fragmentation on clinical outcomes in branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO)-induced macular edema (ME).

All consecutive patients receiving an intravitreal dexamethasone implant for BRVO-induced ME were divided into two groups depending on whether the implant was intact or had fragmented into two or more pieces on postoperative day 1. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), and central subfield thickness (CST) on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography were measured for 6 months.

Among 68 patients, the implant was fragmented in 6 (8.8%) and intact in 62 (91.2%) eyes. The two groups did not differ in BCVA and CST at any time point (all p > 0.05). There was no difference in the ME recurrence rate, frequency of IOP elevation, and cataract progression between the two groups (all p > 0.05).

Fragmentation seemed not to influence clinical outcomes of intravitreal dexamethasone implantation during 6 months or to alter the frequency of adverse events.