Visual function and retinal morphological changes after single suprachoroidal delivery of fluocinolone acetonide (Iluvien®) implant in eyes with chronic diabetic macular edema

BACKGROUND: To assess the efficacy and safety of supra-choroidal (SC) Iluvien in the management of chronic diabetic macular edema (DME). METHODS: A retrospective interventional non-comparative consecutive case series including patients with chronic DME who received an SC Iluvien implant. All patients had persistent central macular thickness (CMT) ≥ 300µ after previous treatment with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents or laser photocoagulation. The main outcome measures were improvement of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), reduction of CMT, and detection of ocular hypertension/glaucoma or cataract formation. Friedman’s two-way ANOVA was used to analyze BCVA, intraocular pressure (IOP), and DME across different time points. P-value = 0.05. RESULTS: The study included 12 eyes of 12 patients. Six patients (50%) were males. The median age was 58 years (range 52–76 years). The median duration of DM was 13 years (range 8–20 years). Ten patients (83.3%) were phakic and 2 patients (17%) were pseudophakic. The median pre-operative BCVA was 0.07 (range 0.05–0.8). The median pre-operative CMT was 544µ (range 354–745µ). The median pre-operative IOP was 17 mmHg (range 14-21mmHg). The median follow-up period was 12 months, range (12–42). Post-operatively, the median final BCVA was 0.15 (range 0.03-1), p 0.02, the median CMT was 404µ (range 213–747), p 0.4 and the median IOP was 19.5 mmHg (range 15–22), p 1. Two out of 10 phakic patients (20%) developed nuclear sclerosis grade I by 12 months. Six patients (50%) developed a transient rise in IOP < 10 mmHg from the baseline that resolved within 3 weeks with antiglaucoma drops. CONCLUSION: SC Iluvien is potentially effective in improving visual function, reducing macular edema, and reducing the incidence of steroid-induced cataracts and glaucoma. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40942-023-00458-9.