Safety and efficacy of intravitreal dexamethasone implant injection on macular edema due to retinal vascular diseases

Purpose of our study is to investigate efficacy and safety of a single dose intravitreal dexamethasone implant injection on macular edema due to retinal vascular diseases. The medical records of 30 (13 with branch retinal vein occlusion-BRVO, 7 with central retinal vein occlusion-CRVO and 10 with diabetic macular edema-DME) patients with macular edema secondary to retinal vascular diseases and at least 6 months follow-up between January 2013 and January 2014, were evaluated retrospectively. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT), intraocular pressure (IOP) and cataract progression were performed at first week, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 6th months. The groups were similar in terms of demographic characteristics (p>0,05). In BRVO, there were no statistically significant improvement in BCVA from baseline at all visits (p>0,05). There were statistically significant difference at CMT reduction at 1st, 2nd and 3rd months from baseline (p<0,05). In CRVO, statistically significant improvement in BCVA was observed at 1st and 2nd months (p<0,05). CMT reductions from baseline were statistically significant different at all visits in CRVO group (p<0,05). In DME group, BCVA was significantly higher at 2nd and 3rd months from baseline (p<0,05) and CMT reductions at 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 6th months were statistically significant (p<0,05). The mean IOP values were significantly higher at 1st and 2nd months in all patients. IOP increases were transient and treated with topical antiglaucomatous medicine. There was no requirement a laser or surgical procesure to reduce IOP. The 6-month incidence of cataract in phakic study eyes was 17% and cataracts were extracted at 6th month. In conclusion, intravitreal injection of dexamethasone implant is effective and safety method and provides increased BCVA, decreased CMT in patients with macular edema due to retinal vein occlusions and DME. Transient IOP increase and cataract progression at the end of 6th month are expected side effects.