Surgical removal of dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex) accidentally injected inside crystalline lens

Abstract

AbstractPurpose: To present a rare case of accidental injection of dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex) into crystalline lens in a patient with diabetic macular edema, which was surgically removed by uneventful phacoemulsification.Methods: A 41‐year‐old male patient had been treated with multiple aflibercept intravitreal injections for diabetic macular edema in his right eye, but he showed suboptimal response. So, we decided to treat this patient with intravitreal injection of Ozurdex. The implant was inadvertently injected inside the lens. Subcapsular cataract was formed during the course of 3 weeks at the precise site of the insertion and there was an increase of intraocular pressure, which was addressed with topical anti‐glaucoma medication. Despite all that, the macular edema regressed.Results: We performed cataract surgery and simultaneous removal of the Ozurdex implant 3 months after the injection. Phacoemulsification was completed without any complications as the posterior capsule remained intact the entire surgical time and the one‐piece intraocular lens was successfully placed in the bag.Conclusions: The injection of intravitreal dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex) into the crystalline lens is a rare complication that can be effectively managed with the surgical extraction of the implant from the lens and implantation of a one‐piece intraocular lens in the posterior chamber in the bag without any complications.