Risk factors for ocular hypertension after intravitreal dexamethasone implantation in diabetic macular edema

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 10; no. 1; p. 13736
• Main Authors: Choi, Moon Young, Kwon, Jin-woo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 13.08.2020; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 692/699/3161; 692/699/3161/3175; Dexamethasone; Dexamethasone - administration & dosage; Dexamethasone - adverse effects; Diabetes; Diabetes Complications - drug therapy; Diabetes Complications - metabolism; Diabetes mellitus; Edema; Female; Glaucoma - drug therapy; Glaucoma - metabolism; Glucocorticoids - metabolism; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Hypertension; Intraocular Pressure - drug effects; Intravitreal Injections; Macular Edema - drug therapy; Male; Middle Aged; multidisciplinary; Ocular Hypertension - chemically induced; Ocular Hypertension - etiology; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Steroids; Tomography, Optical Coherence - methods; Tonometry, Ocular - methods; Visual Acuity - drug effects
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-70833-1

We designed a retrospective observational study to identify factors associated with ocular hypertension [OHTN, defined as intraocular pressure (IOP) > 25 mmHg] after intravitreal dexamethasone (IVD) implantation in diabetic macular edema (DME) patients. We measured IOP monthly after placement of an IVD implant, and identified the trend of IOP, incidence of OHTN, and its associated systemic or ocular factors. On average, IOP was highest at 2 months after IVD implantation. Of 84 DME patients who received an IVD implant, 3 (3.57%) presented with an IOP ≥ 25 mmHg at 1 month after implantation, 6 (7.14%) at 2 months, and 2 (2.38%) at 3 months. Compared with the non-OHTN group, the OHTN group had significantly shorter axial lengths and were younger. Logistic regression analysis revealed that axial length < 23.00 mm and age < 57 years were associated with OHTN occurrence. Patients whose IOP was elevated > 30% or ≥ 20 mmHg at 1 month post-implantation, subsequently developed OHTN with statistical significance. In conclusion, shorter axial length and younger age were associated with OHTN occurrence after IVD implantation. Additionally, identifying levels or trends in IOP at 1 month after the IVD procedure may be helpful in predicting subsequent OHTN occurrence.