Dexamethasone intravitreal implant in patients with cataract and naïve diabetic macular edema.

Abstract

PURPOSE\nTo assess the feasibility and clinical effectiveness of dexamethasone intravitreal implant 0.7\u2009mg (IDI) administered in diabetic patients to prevent the worsening of macular edema.\n\n\nMETHODS\nForty eyes of 40 consecutive patients with naïve macular edema secondary to diabetes mellitus who were treated with IDI administered preoperative (Group A: 20 patients) or IDI administered immediately after cataract surgery (Group B: 20 patients). Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness (CMT) changes were evaluated at baseline and at postoperative time points.\n\n\nRESULTS\nFollow-up study was 20\u2009weeks. In Group A and B, mean BCVA improved significantly at all post-surgery time points (p\u2009<\u20090.05). In Group A and B, mean CMT decreased significantly at 16\u2009weeks (p\u2009=\u20090.02 and p\u2009=\u20090.004, respectively). At week 20, CMT failed to reach statistical significance in both groups (p\u2009=\u20090.5, group A and p\u2009=\u20090.15, group B). No statistical differences were noted between groups in term of BCVA (with the exception of week 4 for the presence of cataract in Group A), CMT and IOP.\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nThe use of intravitreal dexamethasone implant 1\u2009month prior to scheduled cataract extraction or at the time of phacoemulsification appears to be safe and effective for at least 16\u2009weeks after surgery.