The corneal effects of intravitreal dexamethasone implantation

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the corneal effects of the intravitreal dexamethasone implantation using corneal topography and specular microscopy. Material and methods: 27 eyes of the 27 patients who received a single intravitreal dexamethasone implantation dose for diabetic macular edema were enrolled in this study. Sirius topography and EM-3000 specular microscopic examinations were performed at the initial examination (baseline), and then on the first day, during the first week, and 1 month after IDI. Changes in corneal parameters were investigated. Results: The mean age was 58.66 ± 6.59 years. 15 patients were men, and 12 were women. The mean disease duration was 12.2 ± 2.4 months, and mean glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was 7.2 ± 1.1. After dexamethasone injection, the mean central corneal thickness, endothelial cell density, and coefficient variation of cell area presented a statistically significant decrease ( p 0.05). Conclusion: Intravitreal dexamethasone implantation affects corneal endothelial cell structure but does not appear to affect corneal topography parameters.