Intravitreal dexamethasone effectively reduces postoperative inflammation after vitreoretinal surgery

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Corticosteroids remain the mainstay for control of ocular inflammation after vitreous surgery. A controlled, randomized, prospective study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of a single intravitreal injection of dexamethasone phosphate on postoperative inflammation after simple vitreous surgery in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy and macular pucker. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Aqueous cell flare intensity was measured preoperatively and on days 1, 10, and 90 in 56 consecutive patients who underwent vitreous surgery for proliferative diabetic retinopathy and macular pucker. Subjects were consecutively randomized to two groups: 400 mug of intravitreal dexamethasone (treatment group) or no dexamethasone (control group) RESULTS: Before surgery, cell and flare intensity was similar in both groups. Flare intensity was significantly lower at 10, 30, and 90 days in the proliferative diabetic retinopathy treatment group (P <.05). CONCLUSION: Intravitreal dexamethasone significantly alleviates postoperative inflammation after vitreous surgery and is a useful adjunct.