Review of the Drug-infused Eye Implant—Ozurdex® (Dexamethasone Intravitreal Implant)

Ozurdex® (dexamethasone intravitreal implant, Allergan, Inc., Irvine, CA) is an intravitreal implant designed to provide sustained, controlled release of dexamethasone to treat inflammatory conditions in the posterior segment of the eye. Ozurdex is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of macular edema (ME) following branch and central retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and for the treatment of non-infectious uveitis that involves the posterior segment. A single intravitreal injection of Ozurdex has been shown to improve visual acuity and reduce central retinal thickness in eyes with these conditions for up to six months. Increases in intraocular pressure are typically transient and controlled with topical medication. Repeated treatment with Ozurdex at a six-month interval has been shown to be safe and effective in patients with ME related to RVO. Although cataract progression has been noted upon repeated injection, cataract extraction has remained rare in clinical studies of up to one year in duration. Ozurdex has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of diabetic ME (DME) and may be particularly valuable for treatment of ME in difficult-to-treat vitrectomized eyes. Ozurdex is currently under investigation in Phase III trials for the treatment of DME.