Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implant for Treatment of Serous Macular Detachment in Central Retinal Vein Occlusion.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of intravitreal dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex) treatment on serous macular detachment (SMD) in patients with nonischemic central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO).

METHODS: Retrospective, interventional, noncomparative case series was conducted. Twenty-four eyes of 24 patients with macular edema (ME) and SMD secondary to nonischemic CRVO made up the study population. Patients who had received intravitreal triamcinolone and/or antivascular endothelial growth factor treatment and/or had undergone retinal photocoagulation were excluded from the study. After Ozurdex injection, visual and anatomical responses were observed.

RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 9.96 ± 2.44 months (minimum 7, maximum 14). After injection of Ozurdex, ME and SMD regressed except for 1 patient. Twenty cases showed relapse within a 5.45 ± 1.43 months mean time. Seventeen of them had SMD. Eight cases revealed a second relapse and 1 case revealed a third relapse after retreatments. The mean time for the second relapse was 5.50 ± 1.19 months. The height of SMD was found to be lower in all follow-up examinations-including relapses-than baseline measurements. The median SMD value decreased from 247.5 μm (minimum 80, maximum 745) at baseline to 0 μm (minimum 0, maximum 426) at the final examination (P < 0.001). No eyes lost vision at any control visit. The mean best corrected visual acuity increased from 0.89 ± 0.31 logMAR at baseline to 0.62 ± 0.31 logMAR at the final examination (P < 0.01). No local or systemic complication was observed.

CONCLUSION: In this case series, Ozurdex was found as a safe and effective treatment for SMD and ME associated with nonischemic CRVO.