Efficacy and Safety of a Dexamethasone Implant in Patients with Diabetic Macular Edema at Tertiary Centers in Korea.
Purpose. To evaluate the real-world efficacy and safety of the dexamethasone implant (DEX implant) in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME). Methods. Retrospective, multicenter, and noncomparative study of DME patients who were treated with at least one DEX implant. A total of 186 eyes from 165 patients were included. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT), complications, and number of retreatments were collected. Data at baseline and monthly for 6 months were analyzed. Results. The average baseline BCVA and CRT were 0.60 LogMAR and 491.6 μm, respectively. The mean BCVA improved until 3 months and then decreased up to 6 months of follow-up (0.53, 0.49, and 0.55 LogMAR at 1, 3, and 6 months; p = 0.001, <0.001, and 0.044, resp.). The change of mean CRT was similar to BCVA (345.0, 357.7, and 412.5 μm at 1, 3, and 6 months, p < 0.001, <0.001, and <0.001, resp.). 91 eyes (48.9%) received additional treatment with anti-VEGF or DEX implant. The average treatment-free interval was 4.4 months. In group analyses, the DEX implant was more effective in pseudophakic eyes, DME with subretinal fluid (SRF), or diffuse type. Conclusions. Intravitreal dexamethasone implants are an effective treatment for patients with DME, most notably in pseudophakic eyes, DME with SRF, or diffuse type. A half of these patients require additional treatment within 6 months.
Department of Ophthalmology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88 Olympic-ro 43 gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea.
Byung Gil
BG
Moon
Department of Ophthalmology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88 Olympic-ro 43 gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea.
Joo Yong
JY
Lee
Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea.
Hyeong Gon
0000-0002-1795-202X
HG
Yu
Department of Ophthalmology, Ajou University School of Medicine, 164 World Cup-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea.
Ji Hun
JH
Song
Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, 222 Banpo-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea.
Young-Hoon
YH
Park
Department of Ophthalmology, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University, College of Medicine, 75 Bokji-ro, Busanjin-gu, Busan 47392, Republic of Korea.
Hyun Woong
HW
Kim
Department of Ophthalmology, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hospital, 42 Jebong-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju 61469, Republic of Korea.
Yong-Sok
YS
Ji
Department of Ophthalmology, Yeungnam University Medical Center, 170 Hyeonchung-ro, Nam-gu, Daegu 42415, Republic of Korea.
Woohyok
W
Chang
Department of Ophthalmology, Haeundae Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, 875 Haeun-daero, Haeundae-gu, Busan 48108, Republic of Korea.
Joo Eun
JE
Lee
Department of Ophthalmology, Korea University Anam Hospital, 73 Inchon-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea.
Jaeryung
J
Oh
Department of Ophthalmology, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, 79 Gangnam-ro, Jinju-si, Gyeongsangnam-do 52727, Republic of Korea.
Inyoung
I
Chung