Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42228029›Full record

ArticleOphthalmology and therapy2026

Efficacy and Safety Outcomes of Fluocinolone Acetonide Intravitreal Implant in Refractory Diabetic Macular Edema: A Real-World Study.

João Castro Cabanas, Daniel Ferreira Cardoso, Catarina Cunha Ferreira, Carolina Madeira, Eduardo Saraiva, Lígia Ribeiro, Sofia Fonseca, Luís M A Silva, Filipe Sousa-Neves

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Ophthalmology and therapy, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

João Castro Cabanas *Department of Ophthalmology, Unidade Local de Saúde Gaia/Espinho, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal. jpcabanas4@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0004-8059-874X
Daniel Ferreira Cardoso *Department of Ophthalmology, Unidade Local de Saúde Gaia/Espinho, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal. danielffcardoso@gmail.com.
Catarina Cunha FerreiraDepartment of Ophthalmology, Unidade Local de Saúde Gaia/Espinho, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal.
Carolina MadeiraDepartment of Ophthalmology, Unidade Local de Saúde Gaia/Espinho, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal.
Eduardo SaraivaDepartment of Ophthalmology, Unidade Local de Saúde Gaia/Espinho, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal.
Lígia RibeiroDepartment of Ophthalmology, Unidade Local de Saúde Gaia/Espinho, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal.
Sofia FonsecaDepartment of Ophthalmology, Unidade Local de Saúde Gaia/Espinho, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal.
Luís M A SilvaDepartment of Ophthalmology, Unidade Local de Saúde Gaia/Espinho, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal.
Filipe Sousa-NevesDepartment of Ophthalmology, Unidade Local de Saúde Gaia/Espinho, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionThis study aimed to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of the 0.19 mg fluocinolone acetonide (FAc) intravitreal implant in patients with refractory diabetic macular edema (DME).

methodsIn this retrospective single-center study, patients with refractory DME treated with the 0.19 mg FAc implant (Iluvien

resultsIn total, 49 eyes from 39 patients (mean age 70.4 ± 9.8 years) were analyzed. All eyes had previously received anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents and/or short-acting intravitreal corticosteroids, and 47 (95.9%) had undergone laser photocoagulation. Mean follow-up was 23.9 ± 11.4 months. Mean CRT decreased from 502.1 ± 154.0 µm to 325.6 ± 102.9 µm (mean change -176.5 ± 114.8 µm; p < 0.0001). CRT reductions ≥ 20% and ≥ 30% occurred in 87.8% and 49.0% of eyes, respectively, and 55.1% achieved CRT ≤ 300 µm. Mean BCVA improved from 47.3 ± 18.2 to 54.9 ± 14.7 letters (mean gain 7.6 ± 11.2 letters; p < 0.0001). Transient intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation occurred in 38.8% of eyes, with one case requiring surgery. Additional DME treatment was required in 26.5% of eyes.

conclusionsThese findings suggest that the FAc implant provides sustained anatomical and visual benefits with a manageable safety profile in chronic refractory DME.

Indexed as

Diabetic macular edemaFluocinolone acetonide implantIntravitreal injectionReal-world study

Identifiers

PMID42228029
PMCPMC13315362

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.