title: Exploring the morphological and functional retinal changes after dexamethasone intravitreal implant (Ozurdex®) in macular edema due to retinal vein occlusion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore functional and morphological retinal changes 6 months after dexamethasone intravitreal implant (DEX implant) for the treatment of macular edema due to central or branch retinal vein occlusion (CRVO, BRVO).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective interventional case series patients underwent a complete ophthalmological examination at baseline and monthly, including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), spectral domain-optical coherence tomography and microperimetry. Fluorescein angiography was performed at baseline and at 4 months. All patients were treated with a DEX implant and retreated according to predefined criteria starting from month 4.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixteen patients (mean age 66 ± 13 years, 14 CRVO, 2 BRVO) were included. At 6 months mean retinal sensitivity improved from 9.7 ± 4.6 to 13.6 ± 5.4 dB (p < 0.0001) while mean BCVA improved from 52.4 ± 16.2 to 66.1 ± 16.6 (p < 0.0001). Mean central retinal thickness decreased from 708.3 ± 151.01 to 362.7 ± 177.4 μm (p < 0.0001); 56.2% of eyes were retreated at month 4.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At 6 months DEX implant led to a significant improvement in retinal sensitivity and visual acuity associated with a reduction of retinal thickness in patients with macular edema due to retinal vein occlusion.
authors.affiliation: Fondazione G.B. Bietti, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariacristina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parravano
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oddone
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Boccassini
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giorno
authors.forename: Adele
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiaravalloti
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tedeschi
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Scarinci
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Varano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004343:Drug Implants; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014794:Visual Fields
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D004343:Drug Implants; D003907:Dexamethasone