Indicators of Post-Operative Intraocular Pressure Elevation after Naïve Fluocinolone Acetonide Surgical Implantation

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To determine factors conferring an increased risk of developing ocular hypertension secondary to the fluocinolone acetonide (FA) sustained-release surgical implant (Retisert).

Design

Retrospective, observational case series.

Methods

Patients with a history of chronic noninfectious posterior uveitis undergoing naïve surgical FA implantation from 2007 to 2018 at the University of Colorado were studied. Patient demographics and multiple clinical measures were noted one year before and after FA implantation.

Results

Twenty-nine eyes of 21 patients were studied. The median age experiencing an IOP rise vs median age experiencing no IOP rise post-FA implantation was 27.0 and 54.0 years old, respectively (p = .01). A pre-FA implant risk factor of needing future glaucoma surgery after FA implantation is prior to maximum IOP (p = .02).

Conclusions

A risk factor of elevated post-FA implantation IOP includes younger age. A potential risk factor for glaucoma surgery after FA implantation was higher maximum IOP before FA implantation.

Keywords:

• Fluocinolone acetonide implant
• glaucoma
• inflammatory bowel disease
• intraocular pressure
• retinal vasculitis
• Retisert

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Jennifer L. Patnaik, PhD – performed statistical analyses on collected data.

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Additional information

Funding

Supported in part by a challenge grant from Research to Prevent Blindness, New York, NY to the University of Colorado Department of Ophthalmology.