Outcomes of Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implant in the Treatment of Recalcitrant Diabetic Macular Edema

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the efficacy and safety of intravitreal dexamethasone (OZURDEX®) implantation in patients withrecalcitrant diabetic macular edema.Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective non-randomized study of patients who underwent intravitreal dexamethasoneimplantation for recalcitrant diabetic macular edema. Main outcome measures included changes in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA),central macular thickness (CMT), and incidence of ocular side effects.Results: Fifty-seven eyes of thirty-eight patients (20 females, 18 males; mean age 65±7 years) were included in the study. The meanhemoglobin A1c level was 7.9±1.7%. Before entering the study, patients had undergone 5.71±3.40 anti-vascular endothelial growthfactor (anti-VEGF) and 3.44±2.46 intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injections. The mean duration of diabetes and diabetic macularedema was 17.2±6.4 years and 60.2±17.6 months, respectively. At baseline, mean CMT was 506.76±166.74 µm, and the mean BCVAwas 0.68±0.38 LogMAR. Mean CMT significantly decreased to 341.36±146.26 µm (p