Dextenza in the Post-op Management of Vitreoretinal Surgeries

Topical steroids are the current standard of care for managing postoperative pain and inflammation following vitreoretinal surgery. However, topical treatments are limited by the potential for patient non-adherence and variation in drug concentrations due to the intermittent nature of application. A corticosteroid insert, placed following surgery, provides the advantages of reliable and continuous drug delivery without the need for patients to adhere to a treatment regimen. Recently, DEXTENZA®, a dexamethasone intracanalicular insert was FDA-approved for the treatment of inflammation and pain following ophthalmic surgery. DEXTENZA® is placed into the canaliculus via the lower punctum and is designed to release steroid medication for 30 days. The data is limited regarding the safety and efficacy of DEXTENZA® for postoperative management of vitreoretinal surgery. Herein, the aim of this study is to assess the management of pain and inflammation following retinal surgery when using a dexamethasone implant compared with topical steroids.