Clinical and Optical Coherence Tomography Biomarkers As Prognostic Factors in Dexamethasone Intravitreal Implant for Diabetic Macular Edema

Purpose: Aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of dexamethasone (DEX) 0.7 mg intravitreal implant in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) and serous retinal detachment (SRD), and to study the prognostic factors on a follow up of 12 months.

Methods: Forty eyes of twenty- six patients with centre involving DME and SRD, who underwent DEX implant, were enrolled. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), Swept source OCT imaging and intraocular pressure were evaluated. Central macular thickness (CMT), vitreomacular adhesion (VMA), disorganization of retinal inner layers (DRILs), hyperreflective dots (HRD), SRD and ellipsoid zone (EZ) disruption were included in the analysis at baseline and 12 months after implant.

Results: According to our parametric analysis, at 12 months, BVCA improvement from 48.6 ± 23.4 letters to 53.3 ± 24.5 letters was statistically significant ( = 0.04), CMT decreased from 460 ± 99.52 μm to 322.9 ± 117 μm. The presence at baseline of VMA ( = 0.01), EZ disruption ( = 0.03) and DRILs ( = 0.04), were associated with poor BCVA improvement at the end of follow-up.

Conclusion: In conclusion, OCT biomarkers can be considered significant prognostic factors for treatment outcome in patients with DME undergoing DEX intravitreal implant.