title: DEXAMETHASONE IMPLANT FOR MACULAR EDEMA SECONDARY TO ISCHEMIC RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSIONS.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of dexamethasone implant for the treatment of macular edema secondary to ischemic retinal vein occlusions (IRVO).
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive patients affected by macular edema related to IRVO were prospectively recruited. After a comprehensive ophthalmological examination, including visual acuity, fluorescein angiography, and optical coherence tomography, each patient received a first implant. Further re-treatments were performed on the basis of macular edema detection from the fourth month on. The primary outcome measure was the change in Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letter score at the 12-month examination. Secondary outcome measures included changes in central foveal thickness and number of implants over the follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifteen patients with central IRVO and 14 patients with branch IRVO were recruited. The median ETDRS letter score at baseline was 10 (Snellen Equivalent 20/640) in the central IRVO subgroup, improving to 37 (Snellen Equivalent 20/200²⁺) at the 12-month examination. The median ETDRS letter score in the branch retinal vein occlusion subgroup changed from 48 (Snellen equivalent 20/125³⁺) at baseline to 62 (Snellen equivalent 20/63²⁺) at the 12-month examination. The baseline median central foveal thickness was 749 μm in central IRVO, and 459 μm in branch IRVO, improving to 363 μm and 323 μm, respectively, at the 12-month examination. Mean number of implants was 2.8 in the central IRVO and 2 in the branch IRVO.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dexamethasone implant can reduce macular edema in eyes affected by IRVO, leading to a slight improvement in visual acuity.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Ophthalmology, University Vita-Salute, Scientific Institute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy; and †G. B. Bietti Foundation for Study and Research in Ophthalmology-IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Parodi
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Iacono
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Petruzzi
authors.forename: Mariacristina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parravano
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Varano
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bandello
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004343:Drug Implants; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D007511:Ischemia / Q000150:complications*; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000150:complications*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D004343:Drug Implants; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone