Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33154620›Full record

ArticleClinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.)2020

Effects of Repeated Intravitreal Injections of Dexamethasone Implants on Intraocular Pressure: A 4-Year Study.

Elena Pacella, Lorenzo Loffredo, Mariaelena Malvasi, Edoardo Trovato Battagliola, Daniela Messineo, Fernanda Pacella, Loredana Arrico

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.), 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
12citing papers in PubMed
1.6field-weighted citation impact, top 16% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

12 citing papers in PubMed, 23 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Innovative triamcinolone acetonide microsuspension for Non-Invasive ocular management of inflammation.Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences · 2025
    Article
  2. Magnetically Controllable and Degradable Milliscale Swimmers as Intraocular Drug Implants.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2025
    Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Elena PacellaDepartment of Sense Organs, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-5431-6399
Lorenzo LoffredoDepartment of Clinical, Internal Medicine, Anesthesiology and Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-6542-6235
Mariaelena MalvasiDepartment of Sense Organs, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
Edoardo Trovato BattagliolaDepartment of Sense Organs, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-8718-4054
Daniela MessineoDepartment of Radiological, Oncological and Pathological Anatomy Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-3059-4439
Fernanda PacellaDepartment of Sense Organs, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
Loredana ArricoDepartment of Sense Organs, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-9861-6852
Sapienza University of Rome · IT

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeDexamethasone and other corticosteroids are administered intravitreally to treat a variety of retinal diseases. As a side effect, they can alter intraocular pressure (IOP). The purpose of this study is to describe the incidence, severity, and management of ocular hypertension following the administration of multiple intravitreal injections of dexamethasone implants. MATERIALS AND

methodsA total of 78 eyes of 78 subjects (males 62%; females 38%; mean age 67 ± 13 years SD) received a total of 152 intravitreal injections of 0.7 mg dexamethasone implants over 4 years. Indications included retinal vein occlusion (87%), diabetic macular edema (9%), wet-type age-related macular degeneration (4%). Ocular hypertension was defined as intraocular pressure above 23 mmHg or any pressure increase of 10 mmHg or more from baseline values. IOP was measured by applanation tonometry before the injection (T0), as well as one week (T1), one month (T2), and three months (T3) afterwards.

resultsFive percent (4/78) of subjects developed ocular hypertension after the 1st injection. On the second and third rounds, additional 7.2% (3/42) and 4.2% (1/24) of subjects developed the same side effect. Among the 8 subjects who received a fourth injection, none was found with OHT. Pressure elevations were detected at T2 and T3. In all patients, topical medical therapy was sufficient to lower the IOP below threshold. Mean pressure variations following the first injection as compared to previous recorded values were +0.97 mmHg (T1), +0.92 mmHg (T2), and -0.41 mmHg (T3) (p < 0.05). Mean pressure variations following the second injection were +0.54 mmHg (T1), +0.23 mmHg (T2) and -0.66 mmHg (T3) (p < 0.05).

conclusionOcular hypertension is a recognized side effect of intravitreal dexamethasone. Some patients develop it right after the first injection, while others develop it subsequently, on the 2nd or 3rd round. This side effect becomes most apparent 30-90 days following the implantation procedure and responds well to topical pressure-lowering medications.

Indexed as

complicationshypertensionintravitreal dexamethasone implantOzurdex injectionretinal vein occlusionside effect

Identifiers

PMID33154620
PMCPMC7605966
OpenAlexW3097485337

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.