TOLERANCE OF INTRAVITREAL DEXAMETHASONE IMPLANTS IN PATIENTS WITH OCULAR HYPERTENSION OR OPEN-ANGLE GLAUCOMA.

Purpose: Evaluate the pressure tolerance of dexamethasone implants in open-angle glaucoma (OAG+) patients and ocular hypertension (OHT+) patients compared with nonglaucomatous and nonhypertensive patients.

Methods: Retrospective observational 2-center, controlled study including 100 patients treated with intravitreal injections of dexamethasone, divided into 2 groups: Group 1, OAG+/OHT+ (n = 50), and Group 2, OAG-/OHT- (n = 50), matched for age and disease. Intraocular pressure (IOP) and hypotensive treatment were evaluated initially, at 8 days, and every month for 6 months after intravitreal treatment. The primary endpoint was IOP increase greater than 10 mmHg.

Results: Thirty-four percent of glaucomatous patients experienced a transient IOP increase greater than 10 mmHg versus 16% in the OAG-/OHT- group (P = 0.06). Intraocular pressure greater than 25 mmHg was recorded early on Day 8 in 6% of the OAG+ patients versus 2% of the OAG- patients. Fifty-four percent of the glaucoma patients increased their treatment, and hypotensive treatment was initiated in 38% of the OAG- patients (P = 0.1). Filtering surgery was only required in the OAG+/OHT+ group (6% versus 0%), particularly in dual-therapy and triple-therapy patients, who had a higher risk of filtering surgery (P = 0.008).

Conclusion: Half of the OAG+ and OHT+ patients needed an add-on treatment, with early onset beginning on Day 8 in 6%. This emphasizes the need for IOP monitoring during treatment, especially for OAG+/OHT+ patients.