3 months results of intravitreal dexamethasone implant in non infectious uveitis

Purpose To evaluate efficacy and safety of dexamethasone implant in patients with non infectious uveitis. Methods Retrospective study. Charts of 30 patients with non infectious uveitis treated with dexamethasone implant between September 2012 from April 2013 were reviewed. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intra‐ocular pressure (IOP), laser flare meter and retinal central mean thickness (CMT) were followed up initially, at 1 and 3 months in each patient. Results 29 patients of 30 were treated for a macular edema. 1 patient was treated to improve the anti‐inflammatory control for a Behçet disease refractory to immunosupressive therapy. Intravitreal dexamethasone injection was effective in improving BCVA : preoperative mean BCVA was 0.57 logMAR units and improved to 0.45 and 0.43 logMAR units at month 1 and 3. Mean CMT also improved in all patients : the pre‐operative mean CMT was 455 μm and improved to 300 and 312 μm at months 1 and 3, respectively. Macular edema began to relapse in 23 patients at 3 months. Mean anterior chamber flare measured by laser decreased from 250 photons/ms to 60 photons/ms. Safety was good with 3 cases of IOP increase resolved by medical treatment only, 1 case of intravitreal hemorrhage treated by vitrectomy. Conclusion OZURDEX(®) appeared effective in management of uveitis macular edema but its action was short with frequent relapse at 3 months. Its safety seemed to be good. Further studies are needed to evaluate its place in the treatment strategy.