ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: There are few real-life studies on the intravitreal 0.7-mg dexamethasone implant for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME) conducted in Latin America. We aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of this implant in clinical practice. METHODS: Twenty-seven centers from Brazil and one from Argentina provided information on patients with DME treated with Ozurdex. The efficacy outcome variables were best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in Snellen and central retinal thickness (CRT). Safety was assessed by the elevation in intraocular pressure (IOP), occurrence of cataracts, and adverse events. RESULTS: A total of 329 eyes (both treated cases and naïve eyes) from 282 patients underwent treatment. The time since diagnosis of DME ranged from 1 to 156 months. The median BCVA was 0.7 logMAR/50 letters at baseline and 0.3 logMAR/70 letters after treatment (both p < 0.001). Median CRT values decreased from 425 µm at baseline to 270 µm after treatment (p < 0.001). Increases in IOP of at least 10 mm Hg were observed in 7.4% of eyes, and 4% of eyes had cataract evolution. No cases of endophthalmitis were reported. CONCLUSION: These real-life results suggest that the intravitreal dexamethasone implant is effective and safe for eyes with DME.
Subject(s)
Dexamethasone/administration & dosage , Diabetic Retinopathy/complications , Macular Edema/drug therapy , Visual Acuity , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Diabetic Retinopathy/diagnosis , Diabetic Retinopathy/drug therapy , Drug Implants , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Glucocorticoids/administration & dosage , Humans , Intravitreal Injections , Macular Edema/diagnosis , Macular Edema/etiology , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Cavernous hemangioma of the retina is an unusual vascular hamartoma that has been reported to occur either sporadically or as a dominantly inherited trait. A case of a large and sporadic macular cavernous hemangioma that was successfully treated with systemic infliximab as a first line of treatment is presented. The patient was referred with decreased vision of the right eye for 6 months. Fundus examination disclosed a reddish elevated lesion in the posterior pole that obscured the macula and encroached on the fovea. It consisted of grapelike aneurysms. The patient underwent treatment with infliximab intravenously. Two weeks after the second infusion of infliximab, visual acuity improved to 20/80 with a marked involution of the tumor in the right eye. Although the data are limited, we think that a new perspective for treatment of retinal vascular tumors may appear in the future considering antibodies to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Stargardt disease may lead to chronic destructive changes to the retinal pigment epithelium and secondarily cause a lesion in the Bruch membrane, predisposing to subsequent subretinal choroidal neovascularization (CNV). METHODS: The authors report an angiographically documented, bilateral, and simultaneous case of CNV in Stargardt disease that was successfully treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT). RESULTS: A 53-year-old man with unequivocal Stargardt disease presented with CNV in both eyes simultaneously. Best-corrected visual acuity was 20/30 in the right eye and 20/40 in the left eye. PDT was performed in both eyes and vision improved to 20/25 in the right eye and 20/30 in the left eye. The lesions recurred 3 months later when vision had decreased to 20/40 in the right eye and 20/60 in the left eye. Retreatment with PDT was performed in both eyes and vision improved to 20/30 in the right eye and 20/50 in the left eye. No further recurrence was observed for 4 months. CONCLUSION: Considering the positive short-term outcome in this case as well as the limited data available, PDT may be considered in cases of CNV in Stargardt disease.