Abstract
Purpose: :
To report our experience with multiple injections of dexamethasone 0.7 mg sustained-release intravitreal implant (Ozurdex(®); Allergan, Inc, Irvine, CA) for the treatment of posterior non-infectious uveitis.
Methods: :
A retrospective chart review of patients with posterior non-infectious uveitis treated with at least two sustained-release dexamethasone 0.7 mg intravitreal implants was performed. Efficacy of treatment was determined by complete ophthalmic examination including Snellen visual acuity, central retinal thickness as measured by spectral domain ocular coherence tomography (OCT), and degree of inflammation as assessed on clinical exam and fluorescein angiography.
Results: :
Six eyes of five patients treated with a total of 13 dexamethasone 0.7 mg sustained-release intravitreal implants were included. Patients were followed at regular intervals, and retreatment was based on recurrence of inflammation and/or worsening of visual acuity. On average, time to retreatment was 23.4 weeks (median, 16.4 weeks; range, 12.9-62.3 weeks). Patients received an average of 2.2 total intravitreal injections, with one patient receiving 3 treatments. One patient developed elevated intraocular pressure that necessitated medical and laser therapy; no other serious ocular or systemic adverse events were noted during the follow-up period.
Conclusions: :
In patients with posterior uveitis, multiple intravitreal sustained-release dexamethasone 0.7 mg intravitreal implants are an effective treatment option for controlling inflammation and appear to be well tolerated.
Keywords: uveitis-clinical/animal model • drug toxicity/drug effects • inflammation