DEXAMETHASONE IMPLANT FOR MACULAR EDEMA SECONDARY TO CENTRAL RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION IN PATIENTS YOUNGER THAN 50 YEARS

Purpose:To evaluate the effects of dexamethasone implant for macular edema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion in patients younger than 50 years.Methods:Patients with no previous treatment, macular edema with central foveal thickness >250 m and best-corrected visual acuity between 1.30 LogMAR and 0.30 LogMAR were prospectively recruited for a 12-month follow-up study. After baseline dexamethasone implant, re-treatment was performed starting from the fourth month if a best-corrected visual acuity deterioration with central foveal thickness >250 m occurred after an initial improvement. The primary outcome was the change in the best-corrected visual acuity. Secondary outcomes included the proportion of eyes gaining at least 3 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study lines, the change in the central foveal thickness, and the number of treatments.Results:Mean best-corrected visual acuity changed significantly from 0.60 0.38 LogMAR at baseline to 0.43 +/- 0.48 at the 12-month examination (P = 0.03). Eight of 16 eyes (50%) gained 3 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study lines. Mean central foveal thickness improved significantly from 705 +/- 202 m at baseline to 408 +/- 196 m at 12-month visit (P < 0.001). The patients received a mean of 1.8 +/- 0.9 implants with 8/16 eyes and 3/16 receiving 1 and 2 implants, respectively.Conclusion:This present investigation indicates that dexamethasone implant can provide a 3-line improvement in half of the patients younger than 50 years and affected by macular edema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion.