Popis: |
Evaluate the incidence of pigment epithelial tear when intravitreal delayed-release dexamethasone implant is administered (off-label use) prior to antiangiogenic treatment in pigment epithelium detachments (PED) secondary to neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) with high-risk rupture characteristics and investigate if it causes a decrease in the PED size.Patients with nAMD, PED height500 microns and Ozurdex implant prior to the antiangiogenic therapy were included. The presence of pigment epithelium rupture in optical coherence tomography scans, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and PED measurements (maximum height and diameter) were registered.The study included 14 eyes of 14 patients: mean age 77 ± 7 years, 11 (79%) females. 25 ± 13 days after the Ozurdex, patients started with at least 3 anti-VEGF monthly injections. BCVA improved from 64 ± 14-69 ± 11 letters after anti-VEGF therapy (p 0.05). Mean baseline PED height was 817 ± 269 µm, being 639 ± 268 µm after Ozurdex and 370 ± 260 µm after anti-VEGF injections (p = 0.035 and p = 0.009). One retinal pigment epithelium tear occurred (7%). No other adverse effects were reported.Dexamethasone implant prior to anti-VEGF therapy may represent a promising therapeutic modality for large PED in nAMD, reducing PED dimensions and the risk of pigment epithelium tears prior to anti VEGF therapy. |