Choroidal vascularity index after a single dose of intravitreal dexamethasone implant in patients with refractory diabetic macular oedema

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate choroidal vascularity index (CVI) after a single dose of intravitreal dexamethasone implant in refractory diabetic macular oedema (DME). Methods: Total choroidal area, luminal area, and CVI were measured at baseline, 1st month, and at 3rd month after dexamethasone implant using binarization of enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) images. Results: A total of 25 eyes of 25 patients (mean age: 61.4 ± 8.3 years; 12 males, 13 females), were enroled in the study. All eyes had been previously treated with intravitreal aflibercept injections (mean number of injections 4.6 ± 2.5). Mean CVI was 70.3 ± 8.1 prior to intravitreal dexamethasone treatment. It was decreased to 66.1 ± 9.3 at 1 month and 63.5 ± 10.1 at 3 months after treatment. The mean CVI was significantly decreased at 3 months compared with pre-treatment measures (p = 0.033). Conclusion: CVI was found to be decreased in patients who responded to intravitreal dexamethasone implant. © 2022 Elsevier B.V.