Efficacy and safety of fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant (0.2 µg/day) in patients with post-surgical inflammation associated with macular edema: a case series study

Abstract Background Postoperative cystoid macular edema (PCME) is a primary cause of reduced vision following both cataract and/or vitreoretinal surgery, which may spontaneously resolve. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal (FAc) implan...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Maria Madeira, Ana Cabugueira, Helena Urbano, Miguel Cordeiro, Marta Guedes
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-08-01
Series:Journal of Ophthalmic Inflammation and Infection
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12348-025-00503-8
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849234113036288000
author Maria Madeira
Ana Cabugueira
Helena Urbano
Miguel Cordeiro
Marta Guedes
author_facet Maria Madeira
Ana Cabugueira
Helena Urbano
Miguel Cordeiro
Marta Guedes
author_sort Maria Madeira
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Postoperative cystoid macular edema (PCME) is a primary cause of reduced vision following both cataract and/or vitreoretinal surgery, which may spontaneously resolve. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal (FAc) implant (0.2 µg/day) in patients with refractory PCME. Methods Retrospective, non-interventional, and single center study conducted on patients with PCME treated with 0.2 µg/day FAc implant. All the patients received previous treatment with topical corticosteroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), triancinolone injection and dexamethasone implant. The primary end-points were the mean change in best-corrected-visual-acuity (BCVA) and the proportion of patients gaining ≥ 15 letters from baseline to the last follow-up visit. The secondary endpoints included the mean CRT reduction and the mean intraocular pressure (IOP) during the 36 months study period. Results Eight eyes from 8 patients were included in the study. Median (95% Confidence-interval) BCVA was significantly improved from 60.0 (50.05–69.95) letters at baseline to 80.15 (77.25-85.00) letters at month-36, p = 0.043. At the last follow-up visit, 5 (62.5%) eyes gained ≥ 15 letters, without any eye experiencing a loss of BCVA compared to baseline. There was significant CRT reduction from baseline (median: 497.5 μm; 95%CI: 380.0–596.0 μm) to month-36 (Median: 252.0 μm; 95%CI: 242.0–268.0 μm); p = 0.012. Regarding safety, IOP remained stable from baseline (median: 14.5mmHg; 95%Confidence-interval: 12.0–23.0 mmHg) to the last follow-up visit (median: 13.5mmHg; 95% Confidence-interval: 9.0–19.0 mm Hg); p = 0.123. Conclusions The FAc implant significantly improved both visual and anatomic outcomes, and was effective in preventing recurrences, while maintaining a reasonable safety profile, in PCME refractory to intravitreal triancinolone and dexamethasone.
format Article
id doaj-art-582831d651b04bf09c8f74aa3b61835b
institution Kabale University
issn 1869-5760
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher SpringerOpen
record_format Article
series Journal of Ophthalmic Inflammation and Infection
spelling doaj-art-582831d651b04bf09c8f74aa3b61835b2025-08-20T04:03:17ZengSpringerOpenJournal of Ophthalmic Inflammation and Infection1869-57602025-08-011511810.1186/s12348-025-00503-8Efficacy and safety of fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant (0.2 µg/day) in patients with post-surgical inflammation associated with macular edema: a case series studyMaria Madeira0Ana Cabugueira1Helena Urbano2Miguel Cordeiro3Marta Guedes4Ophthalmology Department, West Lisbon Local Health Unit (Unidade de Saúde Local de Lisboa Ocidental)Ophthalmology Department, West Lisbon Local Health Unit (Unidade de Saúde Local de Lisboa Ocidental)Ophthalmology Department, West Lisbon Local Health Unit (Unidade de Saúde Local de Lisboa Ocidental)Ophthalmology Department, West Lisbon Local Health Unit (Unidade de Saúde Local de Lisboa Ocidental)Ophthalmology Department, West Lisbon Local Health Unit (Unidade de Saúde Local de Lisboa Ocidental)Abstract Background Postoperative cystoid macular edema (PCME) is a primary cause of reduced vision following both cataract and/or vitreoretinal surgery, which may spontaneously resolve. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal (FAc) implant (0.2 µg/day) in patients with refractory PCME. Methods Retrospective, non-interventional, and single center study conducted on patients with PCME treated with 0.2 µg/day FAc implant. All the patients received previous treatment with topical corticosteroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), triancinolone injection and dexamethasone implant. The primary end-points were the mean change in best-corrected-visual-acuity (BCVA) and the proportion of patients gaining ≥ 15 letters from baseline to the last follow-up visit. The secondary endpoints included the mean CRT reduction and the mean intraocular pressure (IOP) during the 36 months study period. Results Eight eyes from 8 patients were included in the study. Median (95% Confidence-interval) BCVA was significantly improved from 60.0 (50.05–69.95) letters at baseline to 80.15 (77.25-85.00) letters at month-36, p = 0.043. At the last follow-up visit, 5 (62.5%) eyes gained ≥ 15 letters, without any eye experiencing a loss of BCVA compared to baseline. There was significant CRT reduction from baseline (median: 497.5 μm; 95%CI: 380.0–596.0 μm) to month-36 (Median: 252.0 μm; 95%CI: 242.0–268.0 μm); p = 0.012. Regarding safety, IOP remained stable from baseline (median: 14.5mmHg; 95%Confidence-interval: 12.0–23.0 mmHg) to the last follow-up visit (median: 13.5mmHg; 95% Confidence-interval: 9.0–19.0 mm Hg); p = 0.123. Conclusions The FAc implant significantly improved both visual and anatomic outcomes, and was effective in preventing recurrences, while maintaining a reasonable safety profile, in PCME refractory to intravitreal triancinolone and dexamethasone.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12348-025-00503-8Postoperative cystoid macular edemaInflammationFluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implantILUVIENIntraocular inflammationIntraocular pressure
spellingShingle Maria Madeira
Ana Cabugueira
Helena Urbano
Miguel Cordeiro
Marta Guedes
Efficacy and safety of fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant (0.2 µg/day) in patients with post-surgical inflammation associated with macular edema: a case series study
Journal of Ophthalmic Inflammation and Infection
Postoperative cystoid macular edema
Inflammation
Fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant
ILUVIEN
Intraocular inflammation
Intraocular pressure
title Efficacy and safety of fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant (0.2 µg/day) in patients with post-surgical inflammation associated with macular edema: a case series study
title_full Efficacy and safety of fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant (0.2 µg/day) in patients with post-surgical inflammation associated with macular edema: a case series study
title_fullStr Efficacy and safety of fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant (0.2 µg/day) in patients with post-surgical inflammation associated with macular edema: a case series study
title_full_unstemmed Efficacy and safety of fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant (0.2 µg/day) in patients with post-surgical inflammation associated with macular edema: a case series study
title_short Efficacy and safety of fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant (0.2 µg/day) in patients with post-surgical inflammation associated with macular edema: a case series study
title_sort efficacy and safety of fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant 0 2 µg day in patients with post surgical inflammation associated with macular edema a case series study
topic Postoperative cystoid macular edema
Inflammation
Fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant
ILUVIEN
Intraocular inflammation
Intraocular pressure
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12348-025-00503-8
work_keys_str_mv AT mariamadeira efficacyandsafetyoffluocinoloneacetonideintravitrealimplant02μgdayinpatientswithpostsurgicalinflammationassociatedwithmacularedemaacaseseriesstudy
AT anacabugueira efficacyandsafetyoffluocinoloneacetonideintravitrealimplant02μgdayinpatientswithpostsurgicalinflammationassociatedwithmacularedemaacaseseriesstudy
AT helenaurbano efficacyandsafetyoffluocinoloneacetonideintravitrealimplant02μgdayinpatientswithpostsurgicalinflammationassociatedwithmacularedemaacaseseriesstudy
AT miguelcordeiro efficacyandsafetyoffluocinoloneacetonideintravitrealimplant02μgdayinpatientswithpostsurgicalinflammationassociatedwithmacularedemaacaseseriesstudy
AT martaguedes efficacyandsafetyoffluocinoloneacetonideintravitrealimplant02μgdayinpatientswithpostsurgicalinflammationassociatedwithmacularedemaacaseseriesstudy