This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Intravitreal implant reduces DME effects in vitrectomized eyes
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
BERLIN — In a phase 3b study, a dexamethasone intravitreal implant improved central retinal thickness and vision in previously vitrectomized eyes of patients with diabetic macular edema, according to a poster presented here.
The prospective, multicenter, open-label study of Ozurdex (dexamethasone intravitreal implant, Allergan) in 56 previously vitrectomized patients over 26 weeks found a statistically significant improvement in both central retinal thickness and visual acuity throughout the length of the study, David S. Boyer, MD, and colleagues said in a poster presentation at the World Ophthalmology Congress.
Vitrectomy had been performed in at least one eye of each patient at least 3 months prior, according to the poster.
"At the end of the 26-week study, 42.9% of patients had gained at least one line of BCVA, 24% of patients had gained at least two lines in BCVA, and 10.7% had gained at least three lines," Dr. Boyer and colleagues said.
The implant had an acceptable safety profile, and no surgery was needed to lower IOP. Central retinal thickness decreased 38.6% at week 8, 27% at week 13, 16.6% at week 20 and 9.6% at week 26, all of which were statistically significant reductions, according to information given in the poster.
"Sustained-release delivery of dexamethasone with DEX implant [Ozurdex] may be particularly beneficial in vitrectomized eyes," the authors said.
Follow OSNSuperSite.com
on Twitter.