Abstract
Purpose :
Use of a single 0.18 mg fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal (FAi) insert for treatment of non-infectious uveitis affecting the posterior segment (NIU-PS) was evaluated in a 3-year study. Outcomes for fellow eyes with uveitis are presented as a means of understanding the natural history of the disease process over this time period.
Methods :
Fellow-eye data from a 3-year, double-masked, multicenter, sham-controlled safety/efficacy study are summarized.
Results :
87 patients with NIU-PS received the FAi insert; 59 fellow eyes had NIU-PS (less severe than study eyes). Through 3 years, 49 (56.3%) FAi-treated eyes and 51 (86.4%) fellow eyes had recurrence of uveitis; mean (SD) number of recurrences was 1.2 (2.00) and 3.4 (3.34), respectively. At least one adjunctive local steroid injection was given to 17 (19.5%) FAi-treated vs 39 (66.1%) fellow eyes; 30 (34.5%) of these patients received at least one systemic steroid or immunosuppressant medication. Rates of IOP elevations and IOP-lowering interventions were similar between FAi-treated and fellow eyes. 20 (23.0%) FAi-treated and 12 (20.3%) fellow eyes had an IOP increase of ≥ 12 mmHg; IOP lowering medication was required in 37 (42.5%) FAi-treated and 29 (49.2%) fellow eyes; and IOP-lowering surgery was required in 5 (5.7%) and 9 (15.3%), respectively. Of baseline-phakic eyes, 31/42 (73.8%) FAi-treated and 10/27 (37.0%) fellow eyes required cataract surgery. Mean BCVA at 3 years was 76.6 (10.36) letters for FAi-treated vs 66.3 (23.38) for fellow eyes, and mean change from baseline was +9.1 (13.02) vs -4.4 (14.03) letters, respectively.
Conclusions :
Although study eyes had more severe uveitis at baseline, the data for fellow eyes were worse overall than for FAi-treated eyes and illustrate the natural course of NIU-PS over 3 years.
This is a 2020 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.