Abstract
Background/Objectives
Pseudophakic macular oedema remains the most common sight-threatening complication following cataract surgery. This study aims to assess the effect of intraoperative subconjunctival steroids on the rate of pseudophakic cystoid macular oedema.
Methods
A retrospective, observational database study of 20 066 consecutive phacoemulsification surgeries. The incidence of pseudophakic cystoid macular oedema was compared in eyes that did and did not receive intraoperative subconjunctival steroid injection during routine cataract surgery.
Results
Intraoperative subconjunctival injection of dexamethasone or betamethasone sodium phosphate significantly reduced the odds of developing pseudophakic cystoid macular oedema across the cohort (odds ratio: 0.67; 95% confidence interval: 0.46–0.98, p = 0.039). The effect of subconjunctival steroids on pseudophakic macular oedema remained independently associated on multivariate logistic regression analysis (p = 0.028).
Conclusion
This study demonstrates that administration of intraoperative subconjunctival steroid injection is associated with a reduced incidence of pseudophakic cystoid macular oedema in routine, uncomplicated cataract surgery.
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Data availability
The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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MALT was responsible for designing the study, data collection, analysis and interpretation, literature review, and writing the report. EB was responsible for the statistical analysis and interpretation, providing continuous and final review of the report. PU was responsible for the conception of the study and review of the report. RM provided feedback on the report.
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Teo, M.A.L., Bloch, E., Muniraju, R. et al. Intraoperative subconjunctival steroid reduces the incidence of pseudophakic macular oedema: a cohort study of 20,066 consecutive phacoemulsification surgeries. Eye 37, 2077–2081 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-022-02290-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-022-02290-1