Journal List > J Korean Ophthalmol Soc > v.60(9) > 1133037

Jang, Kim, Lee, Jeong, and Lee: The Effect of Epiretinal Membrane on Dexamethasone Implant for Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion Macular Edema

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the effect of epiretinal membrane (ERM) on the outcomes of intravitreal dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex®, Allergan, Irvine, CA, USA) treatment for macular edema (ME) secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).

Methods

Thirty eyes of 30 patients who received Ozurdex treatment for ME secondary to BRVO, and were followed-up for at least 6 months were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups based on the presence (ERM [+] or absence ERM [−]) of ERM at baseline. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central foveal thickness (CFT), recurrence of ME, and retreatment rate were evaluated at baseline, 1, 3, and 6 months after Ozurdex injection.

Results

Ten eyes of 30 eyes (33%) showed ERM at baseline. While the mean CFT was significantly reduced at 1 month after Ozurdex injection, it began to increase gradually thereafter in both groups. The ERM (+) group showed a significantly higher mean CFT than the corresponding values of the ERM (−) group at 1 (p = 0.022) and 6 months (p = 0.001) after Ozurdex injection. However, no significant difference was found in the BCVA between the two groups at every visit. The proportion of eyes with ME was significantly higher in the ERM (+) group (90%) than that in the ERM (−) group (35%) at 6 months after Ozurdex injection (p = 0.009). There were no significant differences between the two groups in the percentage of retreatment, time to retreatment, and type of materials used for retreatment.

Conclusions

In patients with ME secondary to BRVO, the treatment effect of Ozurdex was low and the duration of treatment was short when ERM was concurrently present. However, the presence of ERM did not significantly affect visual outcomes after treatment with Ozurdex.

Figures and Tables

Figure 1

Representative optical coherence tomography images in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion associated with macular edema and treated with intravitreal dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex®, Allergan, Irvine, CA, USA). (A) The eye without epiretinal membrane (ERM) showed severe macular edema at baseline. After Ozurdex injection, no significant recurrence was observed during the 6-month of follow-up period. (B) The eye with ERM also showed significant macular edema at baseline. The macular edema absorbed at 1 month after Ozurdex injection but recurred at 3 months. At 3 months, an additional injection of bevacizumab was performed, but the macular edema persisted at 6 months.

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Figure 2

Chronological changes in mean central foveal thickness (CFT) (A) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) (B) in ERM (−) and ERM (+) groups. (A) The ERM (+) group showed significantly higher mean CFT at 1 and 6 months after Ozurdex injection than the corresponding values of ERM (−) group. (B) There were no significant differences in BCVA between the two groups at every visit. *p<0.05, **p<0.01 for comparisons between groups at each follow-up visit.

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Figure 3

The proportion of eyes with macular edema in ERM (−) and ERM (+) groups. It was significantly higher in ERM (+) group than that of ERM (−) group at 6 months after Ozurdex injection. ME = macular edema. *p < 0.01 for comparisons between groups at each follow-up visit.

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Table 1

Demographics and baseline characteristics of included patients

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Values are presented as mean ± standard deviation or number.

ERM (−) group = eyes without epiretinal membrane; ERM (+) group = eyes with epiretinal membrane; CFT = central foveal thickness; BCVA = best-corrected visual acuity; logMAR = logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution.

*Pearson's chi-squared test, Mann-Whitney U-test.

Table 2

Mean changes in central foveal thickness

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Values are presented as mean ± standard deviation.

ERM (−) group = eyes without epiretinal membrane; ERM (+) group = eyes with epiretinal membrane.

*Mann-Whitney U-test; p < 0.05.

Table 3

Mean changes in best-corrected visual acuity

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Values are presented as mean ± standard deviation.

BCVA = best-corrected visual acuity; logMAR = logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution; ERM (−) group = eyes without epiretinal membrane; ERM (+) group = eyes with epiretinal membrane.

*Mann-Whitney U-test.

Table 4

Retreatment summary

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Values are presented as mean ± standard deviation or number (%).

ERM (−) group = eyes without epiretinal membrane; ERM (+) group = eyes with epiretinal membrane.

*Pearson's chi-squared test; Mann-Whitney U-test.

Notes

Conflicts of Interest The authors have no conflicts to disclose.

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