Predictive Factors and Management of Macular Edema after Retropupillary Iris-Claw Intraocular Lens Implantation in Aphakia: National Multicenter Audit-Report 2.

The aim of this multicenter, national clinical audit is to evaluate the predictive factors and management of postoperative macular edema (ME) after retropupillary iris-claw intraocular lens (RICI) implantation and pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). Preoperative, surgical and postoperative data were collected. Number and type of intravitreal injections (IT) administered (anti-VEGF or dexamethasone implant), visual acuity (VA), intraocular pressure (IOP) and central retinal thickness (CRT) assessed by OCT were collected at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. From 325 eyes (325 patients), 11.7% (38/325) developed postoperative ME. Previous complicated cataract surgery with no capsular support was the only significant predictive factor for developing postoperative ME (OR 2.27, 95% CI 1.38-4.52, p = 0.02) after RICI implant. Mean time to ME development was 11.4 ± 10.7 weeks, and mean CRT peaked at 3 months follow-up. Different treatment options were non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs) drops (31.6%, 12/38), dexamethasone (DEX) implant (50%, 19/38), anti-VEGF (7.9%, 3/38) or combined IT (10.5%, 4/38). Cumulative probability of ME resolution was higher in the group treated with IT than in the group treated with topical NSAIDs (85.2% vs. 58.3%, p = 0.9). Performing RICI implantation after complicated cataract surgery is a risk factor for the development of postoperative ME. DEX implants may be an effective treatment for postoperative ME in these cases.

Intravitreal fluocinolone acetonide implant for the treatment of persistent post-surgical cystoid macular edema in vitrectomized eyes.

Cystoid macular edema (CME) is the most common cause of decreased visual acuity after both vitrectomy and cataract surgery. Various strategies have been used for its treatment, such as intravitreal corticosteroids. The intravitreal fluocinolone acetonide implant (Iluvien®) is approved for the treatment of persisting diabetic macular edema and for the prevention of recurrence of non-infectious uveitis affecting the posterior segment. There are very few reports about its off-label use for post-surgical CME. We present four clinical cases of post-surgical CME (three following vitrectomy and one following cataract surgery in a vitrectomized eye 2 years ago). All of them had been previously treated with an average of four injections of intravitreal dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex®), with repeated recurrence of CME. After treatment with Iluvien, three cases showed improvement of both visual acuity and macular anatomy, with resolution of the macular edema. One patient required additional treatment with Ozurdex during follow-up, further improving CME. Two of the cases required topical pressure lowering treatment, and none required filtering surgery. Iluvien could be an effective therapeutic option for persistent non-diabetic macular edema after vitrectomy or cataract surgery refractory to other intravitreal therapies, with the benefit of being able to provide longer recurrence-free periods.