Evaluation of the Effects of Intravitreal Application of an Ozurdex Implant in Patients with Macular Edema due to Retinal Vein Occlusion

Overview

Aims: A retrospective evaluation of the outcomes and safety of the Ozurdex implant in patients with cystoid macular edema (CME) due to retinal vein occlusion (RVO).

Material and Methods: A retrospective analysis of 14 eyes (10 male patients, 4 female patients) treated with the Ozurdex implant at the application center of the Department of Ophthalmology at the Military University Hospital, with the indication of RVO. The period of monitored applications was from 2022 to 2024. Patients were followed up every two months for at least one year after the first application. The primary efficacy parameters assessed were: Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), Central retinal thickness (CRT), Intraocular pressure (IOP), Changes in the diameter of intraretinal cysts (IR), as the main OCT biomarker.

Results: At the first follow-up, two months after Ozurdex application, there was a statistically significant functional improvement, with an average increase of 4.7 letters ETDRS letters (p = 0.042). Six months after application, the average BCVA reached 58 letters ETDRS letters. CRT decreased by an average of 100 µm two months after the initial DEX implant. The highest and statistically significant increase in IOP (p = 0.008) was recorded two months after the application (with an average value of 20.9 mmHg).

Conclusion: Our results indicate that Ozurdex is a safe and effective second-line treatment for macular edema (ME) due to RVO. In our group, the best functional and anatomical results were achieved two months after application. By the fourth month, a decline in BCVA and an increase in CRT were observed. Between the fifth and sixth month, retreatment was necessary in some patients. Additionally, we confirmed that the greatest rise in IOP occurred two months post-application, which resolved spontaneously by the sixth month. In four patients, IOP values above 30 mmHg were recorded during follow-up, and the intraocular pressure was managed with medication.

Keywords:

Ozurdex – dexamethasone (DEX) – macular edema (ME) – retinal vein occlusion (RVO) – central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) – branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO)