Table 3.

Visual acuity, macular thickness, and adverse events among different steroid treatment options for diabetic macular edema

	Triamcinolone (2-year follow-up)		Dexamethasone (6-month follow-up)†		FAc implant (3-year follow-up)‡	FAc insert (3-year follow-up)
	DRCR.net22		Haller et28,29		Pearson et al56	Campochiaro et al60
	1 mg (n = 256)	4 mg (n = 254)	350 μg (n = 103)	700 μg (n = 105)	0.59 mg (n = 127)	0.2 μg (n = 375)	0.5 μg (n = 393)
Visual acuity
≥15 letter improvement	15%	16%	15%	18%	31%	33%	32%
≥15 letter loss	21%	21%	NR	NR	17%*	NR	NR
Macular thickness
Baseline mean foveal thickness (μm)	405	396	446	428	419	451	461
Follow-up mean foveal thickness (μm)	319	319	403	296	309*	280	300
Mean change in foveal thickness (μm)	86	77	43	132	110*	171	161
Ocular adverse events
Cataract surgery, phakic eyes	23%	51%	NR	NR	91%	80%	87%
Increased IOP ≥ 10 mmHg from baseline	16%	33%	15%	15%	NR	NR	NR
IOP ≥ 30 mmHg	9%	21%	NR	NR	61%	NR	NR
Initiation of IOP-lowering meds	12%	30%	NR	NR	NR	38%	47%
Glaucoma surgery	0%	1%	0%	0%	33%	6%	11%
Hypotony (IOP ≤ 7 mmHg)	NR	NR	NR	NR	22%	NR	NR
Endophthalmitis	0%	0%	0%	0%	NR	NR	NR

Notes:

^†Macular thickness measured at 3 months;

^‡adverse events reported after 4 years of follow-up;

^*estimated from published figures.

Abbreviations: FAc, fluocinolone acetonide; IOP, intraocular pressure; NR, not reported.