title: INTRAVITREAL DEXAMETHASONE IMPLANT FOR THE TREATMENT OF REFRACTORY MACULAR EDEMA IN RETINAL VASCULAR DISEASES: Results of the KKESH International Collaborative Retina Study Group.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravitreal dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex) for treating refractory macular edema in retinal vascular diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective consecutive series of 53 eyes with refractory macular edema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion (13 eyes), branch retinal vein occlusion (14 eyes), and diabetic macular edema (26 eyes) treated with a single 0.7 mg dexamethasone implant. Data were collected on best-corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, and central macular thickness preoperatively and at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baseline best-corrected visual acuity was 20/160 and improved statistically significantly to 20/80 and 20/60 at 1 months and 3 months, respectively (P < 0.05, both postoperative visits), and 20/100 at 6 months (P > 0.05). The central macular thickness at baseline was 569.96 ± 178.11 μm, and it decreased statistically significantly to 305.81 ± 155.94 μm, 386 ± 210.79 μm, and 446.41 ± 221.21 μm at 1, 3 and 6 months, respectively (P < 0.05, all visits compared with baseline). Fourteen (26%) eyes developed high intraocular pressure after implantation and was successfully controlled with topical medications, and cataract progressed in 1 (1.8%) eye.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The dexamethasone implant improved macular edema in refractory cases resulting in statistically significant improvements in best-corrected visual acuity and central macular thickness that remained stable to 3 months and 6 months, respectively.
authors.affiliation: *Vitreoretinal Division, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; †Ophthalmology Division, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Dammam, Saudi Arabia; ‡Unit of Macula, Department of Ophthalmology, University and Polytechnic Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain; and §Retina Division, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Saeed T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Alshahrani
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dolz-Marco
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gallego-Pinazo
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Diaz-Llopis
authors.forename: J Fernando
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Arevalo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004343:Drug Implants; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D004343:Drug Implants; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone