Efficacy and safety of intravitreal Fluocinolone Acetonide microimplant (ILUVIEN®) in patients with chronic diabetic macular edema: 1 year follow-up

Purpose: Evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravitreal 0.19 mg fluocinolone acetonide (FAc) micro implant in patients with chronic diabetic macular edema (cDME). Methods: Prospective study recruiting subjects with cDME. Inclusion criteria: cDME for at least 2 years documented with OCT imaging; pseudophakia; previous treatments with laser photocoagulation and intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF and/or dexamethasone. Exclusion criteria: phakia; ocular hypertension; tractional component visible on OCT; glaucoma; previous vitrectomy. Outcome measures included best-corrected visual acuity (BVCA), intraocular pressure (IOP), and central macular thickness (CMT), measured 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post-injection. Data were compared with the Friedman test and significance was set at p