Purpose: To evaluate the effect of a single dose of intravitreal diclofenac on best- corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness (CMT) in patients with refractory uveitic cystoid macular edema (CME).
Methods: In this prospective non-comparative case series, 8 eyes of 8 patients with refractory CME secondary to chronic intermediate uveitis received a single intravitreal injection of diclofenac (500 µg/0.1ml) in addition to other systemic (oral prednisolone and methotraxate) and topical (betamethasone) remission maintaining drugs. Outcome measures were changes in BCVA and CMT after treatment.
Results: Mean BCVA remained relatively unchanged at 12, 24 and 36 weeks (0.69, 0.70 and 0.64 LogMAR, respectively) as compared to baseline (0.71 LogMAR). Mean CMT, however, decreased from 488 µm at baseline to 416 and 456 µm at 24 and 36 weeks, respectively. None of the changes were statistically significant.
Conclusion: In eyes with refractory uveitic CME, intravitreal injection of diclofenac insignificantly reduced CMT but this was not associated with visual improvement.
Keywords: Cystoid Macular Edema; Diclofenac Sodium; Intravitreal Injection; Uveitis; Visual Acuity.