Efficacy of intravitreal dexamethasone implant for the treatment of macular oedema after pars plana vitrectomy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment: long-term outcomes

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy and safety of intravitreal dexamethasone implant as initial and only treatment for macular oedema after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). Methods: This study included 14 patients, who were diagnosed with macular oedema after PPV for RRD and who were treated with intravitreal dexamethasone implant. Patients were examined at the time of macular oedema diagnosis (baseline) and 1, 6 and 12 months after treatment, using best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) measurement and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Results: The mean BCVA at baseline was 0.72 +/- 0.29 logMAR and improved significantly to 0.37 +/- 0.21, 0.42 +/- 0.19 and 0.35 +/- 0.22 logMAR at month 1, 6 and 12 after treatment with dexamethasone implant. The mean central retinal thickness (CRT) was 623 +/- 142 mu m at baseline and decreased significantly to 339 +/- 163 mu m, 428 +/- 131 mu m and 356 +/- 147 mu m at month 1, 6 and 12 after treatment. Total resolution of macular oedema was observed in 10 out of 14 patients (71.4%) at month 12. Ellipsoid zone was intact in 71.4% of patients at the end of the follow-up, while 71.4% of patients received only one implant until the end of the 12-month follow-up. No adverse events were observed. Conclusions: Intravitreal dexamethasone implant was found to be effective and safe as initial treatment for macular oedema after PPV for RRD.