Intravitreal steroid implants are safe and effective for treating post-surgical cystoid macular edema (CME) in patients with glaucoma drainage devices (GDD), without causing significant increases in intraocular pressure (IOP) or the need for additional IOP-lowering medications, according to a study.
The retrospective study analyzed 14 eyes from 14 patients, most of whom were pseudophakic. Most GDDs were Baerveldt devices (64%), with Ahmed devices making up 36%. Most tubes were positioned in the anterior chamber (57.1%), followed by the sulcus (28.6%) and pars plana (14.3%).
Patients had a stable mean IOP pre-implant (13.5 mmHg) and at follow-up points, with no significant rise in pressure at 1 year (11.3 mmHg). There was also no increase in IOP medications at 3 months or 1 year. A significant reduction in central foveal thickness was observed, with a mean decrease of 204 μm, indicating effective treatment of post-surgical CME.
The authors concluded that intravitreal steroid implants were safe and effective for managing post-surgical CME in patients with GDD.
Reference
Zhou HW, Tandias R, Lu ES, et al. Intravitreal Sustained Release Steroid Implants Are Safe and Effective in Patients With Glaucoma Drainage Devices. Retina. 2025;doi: 10.1097/IAE.0000000000004396. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39805140.
Related Content
