Residual Macular Edema Research Articles

The 0.2-μg/day Fluocinolone Acetonide Intravitreal Implant in Chronic Noninfectious Posterior Uveitis: A 3-year Randomized Trial in India

To examine the long-term efficacy and safety of the intravitreal 0.2-μg/day fluocinolone acetonide implant (FAi) to treat noninfectious uveitis (NIU) of the posterior segment (PS). Three-year, phase III, multicenter, randomized, double-masked, controlled, prospective study (clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02746991). Overall, 153 patients in India with NIU-PS in ≥ 1 eye (with or without anterior uveitis) for ≥ 1 year who had ≥ 2 separate recurrences of uveitis requiring ocular injections or systemic therapy in the prior 12 months. Patients were randomized 2:1 for baseline FAi or sham injection and monitored for main outcome measures. Incidence and timing of uveitis recurrence, use of adjunctive therapy, best-corrected visual acuity, central foveal thickness, and monitoring of intraocular pressure (IOP)- and cataract-related events over 36 months. Overall, 153 patients (FAi, n = 101; treated sham, n = 52) were enrolled. Fluocinolone acetonide implant-treated eyes had significantly reduced uveitis recurrence rates versus treated sham (46.5% vs. 75.0%, respectively; P= 0.001) and a longer median time to recurrence (1116.0 [95% confidence interval, 847.00 to not evaluable] vs. 190.5 [95% confidence interval, 100.0-395.0] days for treated sham). Systemic adjunctive treatments were similar between groups, but fewer FAi-treated eyes required adjunctive injections (8.9% vs. 51.9% for treated sham). Visual outcomes were similar between groups, and residual macular edema was more common at 36 months in treated sham versus FAi-treated eyes (46.2% vs. 24.2%, respectively). The FAi-treated group had a lower central foveal thickness from month 12 onward. Intraocular pressure-lowering surgeries were stable in both groups, but, as expected, rates of IOP elevations were more frequent in the FAi-treated group than in the treated sham (IOP > 25 mmHg: 23.8% vs. 3.8%; IOP > 30 mmHg: 16.8% vs. 1.9%, respectively), and FAi-treated eyes had a higher incidence of cataract surgery than the treated sham (70.5% vs. 26.5%, respectively). In patients with NIU-PS, the 0.2-μg/day FAi is associated with reduced-uveitis recurrence and increased time to first recurrence while controlling macular edema, maintaining stable IOP levels, and providing an expected safety profile, including a higher occurrence of cataract formation over 36 months. The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Predictors of Dexamethasone Response of Residual Edema by Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion after Bevacizumab Injection

Purpose: To predict the response to intravitreal dexamethasone (IVD) implant injection in cases where macular edema (ME) caused by branch retinal vein occlusion persists despite intravitreal bevacizumab injection.Methods: Three consecutive (monthly) bevacizumab injections were given to treat ME caused by branched retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) 63 eyes that received additional dexamethasone or bevacizumab injection 1 month later to treat residual ME were retrospectively studied. Each injection group was divided into two subgroups according to ME disappearance status by 6 months after diagnosis. Initial central retinal thickness (CRT), subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), and hyperreflective focus status were compared among the subgroups, as were the changes in these values.Results: At the decision point, the dexamethasone good response subgroups exhibited thicker CRTs and smaller CRT changes than the dexamethasone partial response subgroups (all p < 0.05). The good dexamethasone response subgroup showed smaller SFCT changes, a thicker CRT, and smaller CRT changes than the bevacizumab good response subgroup (all p < 0.05) at the decision point. The cutoff values of the Youden index were 409 μm for the CRT and 62.5 μm for the CRT change (p = 0.002 and p = 0.011, respectively).Conclusions: If ME persists after three bevacizumab injections, IVD more effectively reduces edema if the CRT is thick or if the CRT change is small.

Six-month results of intravitreal ranibizumab for macular edema after branch retinal vein occlusion in a single-center prospective study: visual outcomes and microaneurysm formation.

PurposeThe aim of this study is to report the 6-month results after one intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) injection followed by pro re nata dosing for macular edema (ME) after branch retinal vein occlusion.Patients and methodsThe inclusion criteria included a minimal patient age of 18 years, 20 letters or more best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) (Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study [ETDRS] score, 77 letters or less), and central retinal thickness (CRT) of 250 microns or more. The primary outcome measure was the mean BCVA change from baseline at month 6; the secondary outcomes were mean changes in CRT, residual ME, and microaneurysm formation.ResultsTwenty patients were enrolled from March 2014 through October 2016 at Nagoya City University Hospital. The baseline mean ETDRS letters and CRT were 63.1 and 500 microns, respectively; mean time from symptom onset to initial therapy was 1.80 months; and mean ETDRS gain and CRT reduction were 15.2 letters and 230 microns, respectively. The percentages of patients with Snellen equivalent BCVAs of 20/40 (70 ETDRS letters) or better and 20/20 (85 ETDRS letters) were 90% and 15%, respectively. Residual ME and microaneurysms were observed in 85% and 35% of patients. Microaneurysm formation was associated with delayed initial therapy.ConclusionPrompt initiation of IVR injection provided a better visual prognosis at month 6 and suppressed the microaneurysm formation.

Increased Frequency of Topical Steroids Provides Benefit in Patients With Recalcitrant Postsurgical Macular Edema

To compare standard and frequent topical steroids for postsurgical macular edema (ME). Randomized clinical trial. Subjects with postsurgical ME stratified into post-cataract surgery ME (PCSME) and post-other surgery ME (POSME) were randomized to ketorolac 4 times a day (qid)+ 1% prednisolone acetate (PA) every hour while awake (q1hWA, Group 1) or qid (Group 2). Mean change from baseline best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was determined at week 12, after which group 2 subjects with persistent edema were crossed over to PA q1hWA. Twenty-two subjects (13 PCSME and 9 POSME) were randomized to Group 1 and 20 (12 PCSME and 8 POSME) to Group 2. At week 12, change from baseline BCVA (ETDRS letters) in Group 1 vs 2 was+11.6 vs+8.5 (P= .32) and for subgroups was+10.6 vs+7.8 (P= .23) for PCSME and+13.1 vs+9.4 (P= .47) for POSME. Mean change from baseline central subfield thickness (CST, μm) at week 12 in Group 1 vs 2 was-100.8 vs-63.9 (P = .30). Mean change from baseline intraocular pressure was+2.6 vs+1.7mm Hg (P= .52). Eight subjects in Group 2 with residual ME at week 12 were switched to PA q1hWA and at week 24, the mean changes from week 12 BCVA and CST were+7.0 letters (P= .01) and-108.25μm (P= .04). Our data suggest that patients with postsurgical ME should initially be treated with ketorolac and PA qid, but if edema does not resolve after 12weeks, a switch to ketorolac qid and PA q1hWA may provide benefit.

Five-year outcomes of pars plana vitrectomy for macular edema associated with branch retinal vein occlusion.

PurposeLong-term outcomes of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for macular edema (ME) associated with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) have been previously reported, but the studies did not report the number of additional treatments after surgery. During 5 years of follow-up, we therefore investigated the efficacy and safety of PPV for BRVO and evaluated the incidence of additional treatments.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 25 eyes of 24 patients who underwent PPV for ME associated with BRVO and were followed up for at least 5 years. Best-corrected visual acuity was measured, and foveal thickness was assessed by optical coherence tomography. Additional treatments were also investigated.ResultsThe logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) improved from 0.53±0.23 at baseline to 0.16±0.25 at 5 years (P<0.0001). The foveal thickness decreased from 535±222 µm at baseline to 205±143 µm at 5 years (P<0.0001). For the eyes with residual ME, the following additional treatments were performed within 5 years of follow-up: sub-Tenon injection of triamcinolone acetonide in two eyes, intravitreal injection of bevacizumab in three eyes, grid laser photocoagulation in one eye, and direct photocoagulation of macroaneurysm in one eye. Additional surgeries were performed in two eyes: for one eye, phacoemulsification extraction of the ocular lens and intraocular lens implantation were performed because of cataract progression, and for the other eye, additional PPV was done for postoperative retinal detachment.ConclusionPPV was effective for resolution of ME associated with BRVO and improved visual acuity with a small number of additional treatments during long-term follow-up.

Successful use of intravitreal bevacizumab and pascal laser photocoagulation in the management of adult Coats′ disease

Traditional methods of managing exudative retinal detachment secondary to Coats’ disease have been associated with varying degrees of success. We describe a case of a 34 year-old male who presented with a sub-total exudative retinal detachment of the right eye that encroached upon the macula, associated with a vasoproliferative tumor secondary to Coats’ disease. The patient under-went successful treatment with two intravitreal injections of bevacizumab (Avastin, Genetech Inc., San Francisco, CA, USA) combined with targeted laser photocoagulation with a 532 nm Pascal laser (Topcon Corp., Tokyo, Japan). The visual acuity improved 5 days after the second intravitreal injection from 6/18 to 6/5, with no residual macular edema and complete regression of the vasoproliferative tumor. The improvement in visual acuity was maintained at 12 months post-treatment. We believe this is the first case report describing the successful use of Pascal laser photocoagulation with intravitreal bevacizumab in the treatment of Coats’ disease. Our aim was to defer laser treatment until ‘near total’ retinal reattachment and regression of the vasoproliferative tumor was achieved. There are, however, reports of vitreous fibrosis in patients with Coats’ disease treated with intravitreal bevacizumab. This suggests further long-term follow-up studies are required in patients treated with this approach.