Cauterization of Ozurdex wound for the prevention of scleral leakage in vitrectomized eyes

Purpose: To study if cauterization of the scleroconjuctival wound secondary to intravitreal dexamethasone implant in vitrectomized eyes is effective to avoid scleral leakage and hypotony. Methods: A total of 35 vitrectomized eyes of 35 consecutive patients with macular edema who underwent a single intravitreal dexamethasone implant injection in the operating room at the Eye Clinic of the University of Bari, Italy, from 2013 to 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. At the end of the injection, transconjuctival/scleral bipolar cauterization was applied at the injection site and the presence or absence of leakage or hypotony was studied. Results: At the end of the procedure, no patient showed fluid leakage from the cauterized scleroconjuctival wound. No ocular hypotony of other ophthalmic complications were observed at 1 hour and 1 day from injection and intraocular pressure did not change significantly from baseline at 1 hour and 1 day after injection. Conclusions: Cauterization of the scleral wound after intravitreal dexamethasone implant injection in vitrectomized eyes is safe and effective to avoid scleral leakage with secondary hypotony, obtaining a watertight wound closure.