Dexamethasone Intravitreal Implant in Diabetic Patients Undergoing Cataract Surgery in King Saud Hospital, Unaizah

Abstract

Background: Diabetic patients undergoing cataract surgery face an elevated risk of postoperative inflammation and macular edema, which can compromise visual outcomes. The dexamethasone intravitreal implant (Ozurdex®) provides sustained anti-inflammatory action and has shown promise in reducing these complications, although region-specific evidence from Saudi Arabia remains limited.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the dexamethasone intravitreal implant on visual acuity and macular thickness in diabetic patients undergoing cataract surgery at King Saud Hospital, Unaizah.

Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective study reviewed the de-identified records of 80 diabetic patients who received a dexamethasone intravitreal implant following cataract surgery at the Eye Center, King Saud Hospital, Unaizah. Visual acuity (Snellen chart) and macular thickness (Topcon Maestro 2 optical coherence tomography) were assessed before and after treatment, and data were analyzed descriptively using SPSS.

Results: Mean visual acuity improved from 0.380 ± 0.1757 to 0.540 ± 0.2113, while mean macular thickness decreased from 391.01 ± 105.934 µm to 310.50 ± 74.897 µm following implantation (p < 0.05), with consistent improvement observed across all measured percentiles.

Conclusion: Dexamethasone intravitreal implantation was associated with statistically significant improvements in visual acuity and reductions in macular thickness among diabetic patients undergoing cataract surgery, supporting its use as an effective and safe adjunct therapy in this population within the Saudi healthcare context.