Comparing the Efficacy of Intravitreal Dexamethasone and Time-displaced Fluocinolone Acetonide on Central Retinal Thickness in Patients with Uveitis

ABSTRACT

Background

To compare the efficacy of intravitreally administered dexamethasone (Dex) and subsequent time-displaced fluocinolone acetonide (FA) on central subfield thickness (CST) in eyes with noninfectious uveitis.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of twenty-three eyes (18 patients) subsequently receiving intravitreal Dex and FA implants. The main outcome measures were CST, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), and status of inflammation.

Results

CST (Dex: p < .0001; FA: p = .0008) and BCVA (Dex: p = .0009; FA: p = .0005) improved significantly with both implants. Significantly better effects were noted with Dex for absolute and relative CST reduction (p = .0089 and p = .0051, respectively). Final BCVA did not differ between groups (p = .1893). Dex significantly increased IOP, whereas FA did not. One eye was actively inflamed after Dex and FA injection at follow-up (inflamed eyes before injection: [Dex: 2; FA: 6])

Conclusion

Both implants significantly reduced CST and induced a significant gain in visual acuity. Dex might be more effective in reducing CST.

KEYWORDS:

• Central retinal thickness
• dexamethasone
• fluocinolone
• intravitreal steroids
• non-infectious uveitis

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee and with the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Data availability statement

The data that supported the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author [M.K.], upon reasonable request.

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.