Macular thickness reduced more with dexamethasone than bevacizumab in DME

A delayed delivery system of dexamethasone significantly reduced central subfield thickness compared with intravitreal bevacizumab in patients with persistent diabetic macular edema, according to a study.“Even after 2 years of treatment with anti-VEGF agents alone, approximately 40% of patients continue to have macular edema,” co-author Raj K. Maturi, MD, a partner at Midwest Eye Institute in Indianapolis, said. “We wanted to find out if we could get rid of the macular edema, which over time can cause vision loss, by giving patients a different treatment. The treatment we thought might be most beneficial was a long-term dexamethasone implant.”