INTRAVITREAL DEXAMETHASONE (OZURDEX) IMPLANT FOR RADIATION MACULOPATHY SECONDARY TO STEREOTACTIC RADIOTHERAPY FOR POSTERIOR UVEAL MELANOMA.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of 0.7 mg intravitreal dexamethasone implant in the treatment of radiation maculopathy after stereotactic radiotherapy for posterior uveal melanoma.

METHODS: Retrospective chart review of seven eyes of seven consecutive patients was performed. Extracted data included age, sex, initial and follow-up visual acuities and central macular thickness values, intraocular pressure, follow-up time, number of implants, and time elapsed from radiotherapy to implantation. Main outcome measures were visual acuity and central macular thickness. Glaucoma, cataract formation, or systemic side effects, if any, were recorded.

RESULTS: Female to male ratio was 4:3. Mean age was 49.9 ± 17.0 (range: 27-73). Initial mean visual acuity was 20.4 ± 12.5 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters and initial central macular thickness measured 514.1 ± 135.1 μm on spectral domain optical coherence tomography. All patients except one showed improvement in visual acuity and a mean improvement of 7.4 ± 6.2 letters was observed in the whole group (range: 0-16). The mean reduction in central macular thickness was 226.7 ± 157.0 μm after a mean 9.1 ± 3.4 months of follow-up. On average, implantation of intravitreal dexamethasone was performed 35.2 ± 16.5 months after radiotherapy. Four patients were treatment naive and three had previous intravitreal bevacizumab injections with limited response. Ozurdex reimplantations were performed in four patients and the mean number of injections was 1.7 ± 0.8. Mean time to reimplantation was 5.0 ± 2.12 months. Only one patient developed posterior subcapsular cataract and all patients had intraocular pressures within normal limits. No systemic side effects were observed.

CONCLUSION: In our experience, intravitreal implantation of 0.7 mg dexamethasone is an anatomically, and to a lesser extent functionally effective procedure for radiation maculopathy after stereotactic radiotherapy for posterior uveal melanoma.