Effect of Intracameral Dexamethasone Injection at Conclusion of Cataract Surgery on Macular Thickness in Diabetics

Context: To measure central macular thickness (CMT) in diabetic patients after instilling intracameral dexamethasone at the end of cataract surgery and compare this measure with control group. Design: Prospective case-control study. Participants: 100 eyes of 100 diabetic patients undergoing cataract extraction. Methods: 50 eyes received intracameral dexamethasone 0.4mg/0.1ml at the end of surgery and 50 eyes received sham treatment as a control group. The CMT was measured before, one month, and three months after the surgery Results: The mean CMT in was 261.32 ± 9.45μm in the dexamethasone injected group while in the control group was 275.76 ± 21.36μm (p < 0.05) at the end of first month postoperatively. At the end of the third postoperative month the mean CMT was 262.34 ± 10.77μm and 264.82 ± 9.73μm in the dexamethasone injected group and the control group, respectively, (p > 0.05). The mean Intraocular Pressure (IOP) in the dexamethasone injected eyes was 14.98 ± 2.82 and 15.1 ± 2.82mmHg before and at the end of the first month following the surgery, respectively, (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The CMT of eyes which received intracameral dexamethasone is significantly lower than the control group at the end of first postoperative month, suggesting a possible role of intracameral dexamethasone in suppressing the early inflammatory response that can be linked to post cataract surgery macular edema in diabetics. A non significant increase in the IOP has been observed in the dexamethasone injected group this makes intracameral dexamethasone injection a possible safe practice at the end of cataract extraction in diabetics.