Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implant for the Treatment of Patient with Resistant to Anti-VEGF Diabetic Macular Edema

Purpose . To evaluate the effectiveness of intravitreal injection of biodegradable intravitreal implant containing dexamethasone (Ozurdex) in patients with resistant diabetic macular edema (DME). Material and methods . The study was conducted of 24 patients with diabetic macular edema resistant to therapy with angiogenesis inhibitors (3-5 intravitreal injections without a positive structural and functional result) on the background of compensated type 2 diabetes mellitus. A biodegradable intravitreal implant containing dexamethasone (Ozurdex) was injected once according to standard method at a dose of 0.7 mg. The follow-up period was 6 months. Results . According to optical coherence tomography of the macular area, within 6 months after intravitreal injection of Ozurdex implant, the retinal thickness in the fovea decreased on average from 558.4 ± 25.1 μm to 188.3 ± 18.4 μm, with partial restoration of the foveolar cavity. The maximum corrected visual acuity increased on average from 0,04±0,01 to 0,3±0,09, intraocular pressure did not exceed 18.0 mm Hg. Conclusion . If the anti-angiogenic therapy of DME is ineffective, the use of the biodegradable intravitreal implant containing dexamethasone (Ozurdex) is considered as an effective treatment method that provides a significant and stable (prolonged) improvement of the structural and functional parameters of the eye in 86,6% cases.