Short-term effects of intravitreal dexamethasone implant (OZURDEX®) on choroidal thickness in patients with naive branch retinal vein occlusion.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to evaluate subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) in patients with naïve branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) before and after intravitreal dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex®) injection.


METHODS
Thirty-nine patients with unilateral BRVO and 35 healthy subjects were included in this prospective study. Choroidal thickness was evaluated by EDI-OCT at baseline and 1 month after dexamethasone implant.


RESULTS
The mean SFCT measured in 39 patients with BRVO was 299.41 ± 55.86 µm, significantly greater than that in contralateral eyes (283.76 ± 57.44 µm; p=0.009) and control eyes (276.14 ± 39.06 µm; p=0.044). The mean SFCT after the treatment was 279.64 ± 50.96 µm, significantly thinner than that before intravitreal dexamethasone therapy (p=0.004).


CONCLUSIONS
SFCT in treatment-naive BRVO eyes was significantly greater than that in contralateral eyes and healthy eyes and decreased significantly after intravitreal dexamethasone implantation.
Department of Ophthalmology, S.B. Kayseri Education and Research Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey.
Hasan Basri
HB
Arifoglu
Department of Ophthalmology, S.B. Kayseri Education and Research Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey.
Necati
N
Duru
Department of Ophthalmology, S.B. Kayseri Education and Research Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey.
Orhan
O
Altunel
Department of Ophthalmology, S.B. Kayseri Education and Research Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey.
Burhan
B
Baskan
Department of Ophthalmology, S.B. Kayseri Education and Research Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey.
Bedirhan
B
Alabay
Department of Ophthalmology, S.B. Kayseri Education and Research Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey.
Mustafa
M
Atas
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002829:Choroid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone