title: CHOROIDAL THICKNESS CHANGES AFTER INTRAVITREAL DEXAMETHASONE IMPLANT INJECTION FOR THE TREATMENT OF MACULAR EDEMA DUE TO RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate changes in choroidal thickness after intravitreal injection of a dexamethasone implant for macular edema due to retinal vein occlusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one eyes of 31 patients, treated with a single dose of a dexamethasone implant for retinal vein occlusion-associated macular edema, were included. Subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) and central macular thickness of the affected eyes were compared with those of the normal contralateral eyes at baseline and 1, 3, and 5 months after injection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean SFCT of the affected eyes (296.3 μm ± 61.6 μm) was significantly higher than that of the contralateral eyes (251.2 μm ± 57.7 μm; P < 0.001) at baseline. After injection, the mean SFCT was decreased compared with baseline in the treated eyes at months 1, 3, and 5. There was a correlation between SFCT and central macular thickness in the affected eyes at baseline (r = 0.397, P = 0.027). The change in SFCT was not correlated with the change in central macular thickness after injection. In the contralateral eyes, the mean SFCT did not change significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subfoveal choroidal thickness in eyes with macular edema due to retinal vein occlusion was higher than that of the contralateral eyes. Intravitreal injection of a dexamethasone implant was associated with a reduction in the choroidal thickness of the treated eye.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmolgy, School of Medicine, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ebru
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Esen
authors.forename: Selcuk
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sizmaz
authors.forename: Nihal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Demircan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002829:Choroid / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004343:Drug Implants; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000150:complications*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D004343:Drug Implants; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone