Morphofunctional features of macular area in patients with diabetic macular edema during the treatment with a dexamethasone implant in the vitrectomized eyes

Objective: to assess the dynamics of changes in the morphofunctional parameters of the macular zone in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) with intravitreal dexamethasone implant (IVD) in vitrectomized eyes and eyes with a native vitreous (NV). Material and methods. The study involved 60 patients (60 eyes) divided into two groups with a diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy, DME. Group 1 — patients with NV, group 2 — with vitrectomized eyes. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), optical coherence tomography (OCT), OCT angiography and microperimetry were evaluated before, 1, 3 and 6 months after IVD. Results. In both groups, an increase in the average BCVA after IVD up to 3 months of monitoring (p<0.01); exponential decrease in central retinal thickness from 1 to 3 months (p<0,01), and an increase by 6 months (p<0.05); an increase in total vascular density during 6 months of monitoring (p<0.05); the average photosensitivity (PS) increased in group 1 — up to 3 months. and returned to the initial parameters by 6 months (p<0.05); in group 2 — up to 6 months (p<0.05); Parameter K (the number of points with PS below 24 dB) decreased in group 1 to 3 months (p<0.05) and returned to baseline by 6 months; in group 2 — during the entire observation period (p<0.01). Conclusion. IVD in DME may significantly improve the morphofunctional parameters of the macular zone in the eyes with both NV and vitrectomized eyes. The maximum effect of the drug was observed on the 3rd month of monitoring.