Intravitreal dexamethasone implant for recurrent cystoid macular edema due to Irvine-Gass syndrome: a prospective case series

The efficacy of different anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents, and dexamethasone implant therapy in patients with serous retinal detachment caused by Irvine-Gass syndrome

PURPOSE

The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy of intravitreal aflibercept (IVA), bevacizumab (IVB), ranibizumab (IVR), and dexamethasone implant (IVDI) in the treatment of serous retinal detachment (SRD) caused by Irvine-Gass syndrome (IGS).

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort, comparative study.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

The medical records of 128 eyes with no previous history of intravitreal agents in 128 IGS patients with SRD that received IVA, IVB, IVR, and IVDI monotherapy were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into 4 groups, according to treatment. Patients with recurrence and/or were unresponsive following a course of topical steroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were included in the study. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT), subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), and SRD were compared between the 4 treatment groups at baseline, at follow-up months 1, 3, 6, and 12, and at the final follow-up visit.

RESULTS

Serous retinal detachment completely resolved in 74%, 45.7%, 66.4%, and 40.8% of the eyes at month 1 (P = 0.042), 87%, 50.9%, 75.8%, and 80.9% at month 3 (p = 0.031), 88.9%, 50.4%, 75.7%, 80.2% at month 6 (p = 0.028), 81.7%, 72.8%, 68.7%, 80.1% at month 12 (p = 0.580), and 100%, 66.4%, 87.9%, 93.2% (p = 0.478) at final follow-up visit in the IVA, IVB, IVR, and IVDI groups, respectively. BCVA was significantly better in the IVA group at all follow-up time points (month 1: p < 0.001; month 3: p < 0.001; month 6: p = 0.002; month 12: p = 0.009, final follow-up visit: p < 0.001). CMT was significantly lower in the IVA group at months 3 (p = 0.008), 6 (p = 0.011), and 12 (p = 0.010), and at the final follow-up visit (p < 0.001). Recurrence was observed after a longer period of time and fewer injections were needed in the IVDI and IVA groups (p < 0.05). Resolution of CME was most rapid in the IVA group (p = 0.032).

CONCLUSION

All intravitreal agents were effective in terms of visual results in the SRD patients; however, eyes treated with IVA and IVDI required fewer injections, as compared to the eyes treated with IVB and IVR. Furthermore, SRD entirely resolved in all eyes in the IVA group at the final follow-up visit.

Pseudophakic macular edema in nondiabetic and diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy treated with intravitreal dexamethasone implant

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to compare the impact of intravitreal dexamethasone (DEX) implant during a 12-month period in nondiabetic and diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy (DR) as a treatment for refractory pseudophakic cystoid macular edema (PCME) following prior treatment with topical nepafenac 0.1% and prednisolone 1%.

METHODS

Forty-two consecutive medical records of patients diagnosed with PCME after uneventful cataract surgery were included. The outcomes measured included best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central foveal thickness (CFT). Linear regression analysis was statistically applied.

RESULTS

Following topical treatment, nondiabetic and diabetic subjects presented a mean ± SD gain of - 0.11 ± 0.11 and - 0.18 ± 0.11 BCVA logMAR and a CFT reduction of - 43.42 ± 53.66 µm and - 58.76 ± 36.28 µm, respectively. The mean BCVA gain at month 12 subsequent to DEX implantation was - 0.35 ± 0.17 in nondiabetic (p < 0.001) and - 0.55 ± 0.26 in diabetic patients (p < 0.001), with CFT reductions of - 195.71 ± 93.23 µm (p < 0.001) and - 260.81 ± 198.69 µm (p < 0.001), respectively. Patients who responded with better VA after topical treatment presented better visual outcomes at month 12 following DEX implantation (r2 = 0.46; rho = - 0.71, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Nondiabetic and diabetic patients without DR demonstrated similar results after DEX implant after combined topical therapy, suggesting that selected diabetic patients may have a response comparable to that of nondiabetic patients with PCME.

0.18 MG FLUOCINOLONE ACETONIDE INSERT FOR THE TREATMENT OF CHRONIC POSTOPERATIVE PSEUDOPHAKIC CYSTOID MACULAR EDEMA

PURPOSE

To report the outcomes of the 0.18 mg fluocinolone acetonide insert (FAi) in the treatment of chronic (>6 months) postoperative cystoid macular edema after cataract surgery.

METHODS

This was a retrospective consecutive case series of eyes with chronic postoperative cystoid macular edema treated with the FAi. Visual acuity, intraocular pressure, optical coherence tomography metrics, and supplemental therapies were extracted from the charts before and at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 21 months after FAi placement, when available.

RESULTS

Nineteen eyes of 13 patients with chronic postoperative cystoid macular edema after cataract surgery underwent FAi placement with an average follow-up of 15.4 months. Ten eyes (52.6%) had a ≥2-line gain in visual acuity. Sixteen eyes (84.2%) had a ≥20% reduction in optical coherence tomography central subfield thickness. Eight eyes (42.1%) had complete resolution of CME. Improvements in central subfield thickness and visual acuity were sustained throughout individual follow-up. Compared with 18 eyes (94.7%) requiring local corticosteroid supplementation before FAi, only six eyes (31.6%) required supplementation after FAi. Similarly, of the 12 eyes (63.2%) that were on corticosteroid drops before FAi, only 3 (15.8%) required drops after FAi.

CONCLUSION

Eyes with chronic postoperative cystoid macular edema after cataract surgery treated with the FAi had improved and sustained visual acuity and optical coherence tomography metrics, along with a reduction in supplemental treatment burden.

Retinal and Choroidal Ultra-Widefield OCT - Technology, Insights, and Clinical Relevance

As one of the most state-of-the-art procedures for retinal and choroidal imaging, ultra-widefield optical coherence tomography (UWF-OCT) offers significant gains in terms of information pertaining to peripheral retinal lesions and their differential diagnoses. In particular, it enables the presence of minimal accumulations of subretinal fluid to be assessed in detail and then documented. It also enables choroidal expansion of choroidal lesions to be precisely measured. Similar to conventional OCT, its only limitations relate to patient compliance and opacities of the ocular media. While the pupil width is somewhat less important here, the quality of the images is nevertheless better with the patient under medication-induced mydriasis. Used in combination with UWF fundus photography, UWF-OCT is a helpful tool for assessing and monitoring peripheral retinal and choroidal lesions.

Ocular Injectable Treatment Options for Post-Cataract Macular Edema: A Systematic Review of Current Literature

ABSTRACT

The incidence of pseudophakic cystoid macular edema (PCME) ranges from 0.1% to 20% and is the most common cause of post-procedure vision loss. Currently there is no widely accepted treatment for PCME. Topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drops given alone or in combination with topical corticosteroids are often used; however, there is a growing body of literature surrounding the off-label use of various ocular injectable medications. The purpose of this systematic literature review was to characterize the current evidence surrounding these treatments and conduct qualitative analysis to assess the risk for bias of each study. Eighteen total studies were found and evaluated to have moderate (n=3, 17%) to high risk (n=15, 83%) of bias. Although the growing body of real-world data favors improvements in visual acuity and anatomical outcomes with these injectable treatments, larger studies with better study design are needed to demonstrate their role in the management of PCME.

INTRAOCULAR DEXAMETHASONE IMPLANT POSITION IN SITU AND OCULAR HYPERTENSION

PURPOSE

To determine the association between the dexamethasone implant position in the vitreous cavity and ocular hypertension (OHT).

METHODS

Retrospective review of patients with at least one intravitreal dexamethasone implant injection between 2012 and 2016. Patients who had a minimum follow-up for 6 months and documented evidence of the implant position were included in the study. Steroid responders, glaucoma patients, vitrectomized eyes, and eyes with liquefied vitreous were excluded. Relevant data were collected from patient charts. Three positions (P1, P2, and P3) were identified: P1 (in contact with the pars plana/ciliary body region), P2 (anterior to vortex veins), and P3 (posterior to vortex veins). Ocular hypertension was defined as absolute intraocular pressure > 25 mmHg and/or intraocular pressure rise > 10 mmHg. The relationship between implant position and intraocular pressure rise after factoring in other characteristics was the outcome measure. Appropriate statistical analysis was performed.

RESULTS

A total of 377 patients (432 eyes; 257 males; 677 injections) were eligible for analysis. The median age was 57.24 (±6.32) years. Eighty-eight eyes had OHT. Of these, 54 eyes had the implant in P1. P1 was associated with high intraocular pressure response (>15 mmHg; P = 0.004) and early (<15 days) onset OHT (r = 0.84, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Anterior position of dexamethasone implant in situ increases the risk of OHT.

Comparison of topical nepafenac 0.1% with intravitreal dexamethasone implant for the treatment of Irvine-Gass syndrome

AIM

To compare safety and efficacy of intravitreal dexamethasone (IVD) implant with topical nepafenac (TN) 0.1% in previously untreated Irvine-Gass syndrome (IGS) in clinical practice.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study of 62 eyes with IGS after phacoemulsification with posterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. None of the patients used treatment before IVD or TN. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) with Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study chart (ETDRS), slit-lamp, intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement, fundus examination, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) and fundus florescein angiography were performed to all subjects at baseline, 1, 3 and 6mo.

RESULTS

The mean BCVA of the IVD group was 49.3±6.8, and the mean BCVA of the TN group was 32.9±7.3 ETDRS letters in post-treatment month 6. The mean central macular thickness (CRT) of IVD group was 266.6±53.5 µm and the mean CRT of TN group was 364.9±56.3 µm in post-treatment month 6. Baseline BCVA has correlation with final BCVA in TN group however there was no correlation between baseline BCVA and final BCVA in IVD group.

CONCLUSION

IVD is found to be better than TN in controlling pseudophakic macular edema and improving visual acuity. IVD group also has significantly lower CRT however IOP is not significantly different between two groups in post-treatment month 6.

Irvine-Gass Macular Edema Responding to the Combination of Oral Mineralocorticoid-Receptor Antagonist With Dexamethasone Drops

Long-lasting postoperative macular edema is a therapeutic challenge. The authors report an efficient combination therapy of oral mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (eplerenone [Inspra; Pfizer, New York City, NY] or spironolactone, 25 mg/day to 50 mg/day) and topical dexamethasone (four times/day and progressive dose tapering) in three refractory cases following complex cataract or retinal detachment surgery. In Case 1, central macular thickness (CMT) decreased from 523 μm to 214 μm and visual acuity (VA) improved from 20/200 to 20/50 during a 6-month period. In Cases 2 and 3, CMT improved from 505 μm to 333 μm and from 438 μm to 316 μm during 5- and 3-month periods, respectively; however, VA remained unchanged (20/100 and 20/200) due to photoreceptor damage. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2017;48:936-942.].

Pentablock copolymer dexamethasone nanoformulations elevate MYOC: in vitro liberation, activity and safety in human trabecular meshwork cells

AIM

The aim of this study is to examine the elevation of MYOC in long-term treatment of human trabecular meshwork (HTM) cells using dexamethasone (DEX) encapsulated pentablock (PB) copolymer-based nanoparticles (NPs) (DEX-PB-NPs).

MATERIALS & METHODS

PB copolymers and DEX-PB-NPs were synthesized and characterized using nuclear magnetic resonance, gel permeation chromatography, and X-ray diffraction analyses. MYOC levels secreted from HTM cells were measured by western blot (WB) analysis.

RESULTS

DEX-PB-NPs were formulated in the size range of 109 ± 3.77 nm (n = 3). A long term DEX release from the NPs was observed over three months. Cell viability and cytotoxicity were not affected up to 12 weeks of treatment with PB-copolymer or DEX-PB-NPs. WB data from five HTM cell strains showed that MYOC levels increased by 5.2 ± 1.3, 7.4 ± 4.3, and 2.8 ± 1.1-fold in the presence of DEX-PB-NPs compared with 9.2 ± 3.8, 2.2 ± 0.5, and 1.5 ± 0.3-fold at 4, 8 and 12 weeks in control-DEX treatment group, respectively (n = 5). Based on the decline in MYOC levels after withdrawal of DEX from control wells, DEX-PB-NPs released the DEX for at least 10 weeks.

CONCLUSION

The treatment of HTM cells using DEX-PB-NPs were analyzed in this study. The in vitro cell-based system developed here is a valuable tool for determining the safety and effects of steroids released from polymeric NPs.