Ozurdex in epiretinal membrane surgery
Reviewed by Kurt Spiteri Cornish

This was a prospective multicentre pilot study, looking at the effect of Ozurdex on visual acuity (VA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) in patients undergoing surgery for epiretinal membrane (ERM). Twelve eyes of 12 patients were included in the study. Postoperative cystoid macular oedema (CMO) peaks at between four to six weeks after ERM surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of injecting ozurdex implant into an air-filled eye at the end of vitrectomy and ERM peel surgery. Mean CRT was 548 microns at baseline, which improved to 411 at three months and 419 at six months. Two phakic eyes developed cataracts within the follow-up period. Mean postoperative intraocular pressure was elevated at month one and two post-op (range 13-25mmHg) and returned to baseline by six months. There were no complications related to the steroid implant injection procedure. The authors acknowledge the need of a randomised controlled trial to determine the role of Ozurdex in treatment of idiopathic ERM.

Intraoperative Dexamethasone Intravitreal Implant (Ozurdex) in vitrectomy surgery for epiretinal membrane.
Hostovsky A, Muni RH, Eng KT, et al.
CURRENT EYE RESEARCH
2020;45(6):737-41.