Long-Term Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implant Outcomes in Uveitis

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To describe the long-term clinical outcomes in a cohort of uveitic eyes treated with the intravitreal dexamethasone implant (Ozurdex; Allergan, Inc).

Methods: Seventy-nine (63 patients) receiving 134 implant injections over 82 months were included. Indication, visual acuity (VA), intraocular pressure (IOP), vitreous haze score (VHS), central retinal thickness (CRT), time to reinjection, systemic treatments, and complications data were recorded.

Results: The cumulative probability of VA improvement was 80% at 1 month and 90% at 12 months, and it was maintained until 60 months. Eyes with baseline vitritis (VHS >0.5; 68%) had a probability of VHS improvement of 33% at 1 month, 75% at 12 months, and 85% at 60 months. The probability of CRT improvement was 33% at 1 month, 75% at 12 months, and 85% at 60 months. The most frequent adverse event was moderate IOP elevation (≥25 mmHg) in 30.3%, no cases of retinal detachment or endophthalmitis were observed.

Conclusions: The dexamethasone implant provides favorable VA, CRT, and VHS long-term outcomes in uveitis with a reduced rate of severe adverse events.

Keywords:

• Dexamethasone implant
• intravitreal
• long-term
• outcome
• uveitis

Declaration of interest

The author(s) received no specific funding for this work. Anna Sala Puigdollers and Victor Llorens have given lectures and have received travel grants from Allergan. Alfredo Adan and Javier Zarranz-Ventura have participated as consultants, lecturers and have received travel grants from Allergan.The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.