Intracameral Dexamethasone Injection at The End of Phaco-Vitrectomy Operation in Diabetic Patients

Background: The most common endocrine condition, Diabetes mellitus (DM) affects around 100 million individuals globally, or 6% of the total population. Diabetes significantly increases the chance of developing cataracts and retinopathy. Between 8-25% of diabetics get cataracts, and diabetes patients account for around 40% of all cataract procedures. Intraocular surgery is frequently appropriate for people with diabetes. For the treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy, combined phaco-vitrectomy works incredibly well.
Objective: To evaluate the benefit of intracameral dexamethasone at the end of the phaco-vitrectomy operation in diabetic patients as an anti-inflammatory agent and whether it causes a significant rise in the IOP.
Patients and Methods: A randomized case-control study included 100 diabetic patients with the presence of a cataract that is suitable for phaco-vitrectomy who were admitted to Ophthalmology Department, Menoufia University Hospital, during the period study from October 2022 till April 2024. The present study was conducted in two groups: Group (A): included 50 diabetic patients who received intracameral injections of dexamethasone phosphate 0.1 % intraoperatively and Groupe (B): included 50 diabetic patients who didn’t receive intracameral injections of dexamethasone phosphate 0.1 % intraoperatively.
Results: IOP preoperatively was significantly higher among cases (14.08±1.48) than control group (13.58±2.18), (P=0.044). There were significant differences among cases and control groups regarding blurring of vision, con hyperemia, aqueous flare scale, anterior chamber cells, (p <0.001) and DM and HTN were significantly increased in cases group (14.46±1.46, 15.66±1.59) than control group (12.40± 1.75, 10.50±1.16), (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Dexamethasone did not elevate the risk of IOP rise or other problems, and dexamethasone injection reduced anesthesia-related occurrences, provided more convenience for patients, and could expedite recovery time.