Intravitreal therapeutic agents in noninfectious uveitic macular edema

Abstract

The management of uveitis is challenging for most treating ophthalmologists. The treatment of uveitis often requires the use of high dose of systemic corticosteroid and immunosuppressive agents, which are almost always associated with potential side effects. Intravitreal medications have become a popular mode of drug administration in uveitis patients as they provide high volume of drug to the target tissues, eliminating the risk of systemic toxicity. There has been tremendous development in the intravitreal therapeutics over the last few years. With the advent of sustained-release technique, increasing patient compliance, biodegradable nature of the implant, and introduction of newer agents with better safety profile, the intravitreal medications have become more popular in recent years. This review presents evidence in the scientific literature supporting the use of intravitreal medications for the management of uveitis and its complications.

Keywords

• Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents
• dexamethasone
• fluocinolone acetonide
• intravitreal agents
• methotrexate
• noninfectious uveitis
• sirolimus
• triamcinolone acetonide