Intravitreal Ozurdex has no short term influence on choroidal thickness and vascularity index in eyes with diabetic macular edema: A pilot study

Abstract

AIM: To analyze choroidal parameters in eyes with diabetic macular edema (DME) treated with intravitreal Ozurdex. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty eyes of 14 patients were included in this prospective study. Optical coherence tomography images were obtained before and 8–10 weeks after intravitreal Ozurdex injection; binarized and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) and choroidal vascularity index (CVI) were calculated. RESULTS: Mean SFCT (treatment naïve; 242.22 ± 32.87 reduced to 218.10 ± 22.10, P = 0.158 and previously treated; 330.4 ± 56.72 reduced to 328.93 ± 50.55, P = 0.833) and mean CVI (treatment naïve; 0.64 ± 0.03 changed to 0.65 ± 0.04, P = 0.583 and previously treated; 0.65 ± 0.05 reduced to 0.64 ± 0.03, P = 0.208) showed no significant change. CONCLUSION: Intravitreal Ozurdex showed no significant effects on SFCT and CVI in eyes with DME over short term. Larger studies with longer follow-up may allow a better understanding.