Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implant as a Sustained Release Drug Delivery Device for the Treatment of Ocular Diseases: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature
Claudio Iovino,
Rodolfo Mastropasqua,
Marco Lupidi,
Daniela Bacherini,
Marco Pellegrini,
Federico Bernabei,
Enrico Borrelli,
Riccardo Sacconi,
Adriano Carnevali,
Rossella D’Aloisio,
Alessio Cerquaglia,
Lucia Finocchio,
Andrea Govetto,
Stefano Erba,
Giacinto Triolo,
Antonio Di Zazzo,
Matteo Forlini,
Aldo Vagge,
Giuseppe Giannaccare
Affiliations
Claudio Iovino
Department of Surgical Sciences, Eye Clinic, University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy
Rodolfo Mastropasqua
Institute of Ophthalmology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41121 Modena, Italy
Marco Lupidi
Department of Surgical and Biomedical Sciences, Section of Ophthalmology, University of Perugia, S. Maria della Misericordia Hospital, 06129 Perugia, Italy
Daniela Bacherini
Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, Eye Clinic, University of Florence, AOU Careggi, 50139 Florence, Italy
Marco Pellegrini
Ophthalmology Unit, S. Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
Federico Bernabei
Ophthalmology Unit, S. Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
Enrico Borrelli
Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital San Raffaele, University Vita Salute San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy
Riccardo Sacconi
Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital San Raffaele, University Vita Salute San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy
Adriano Carnevali
Department of Ophthalmology, University “Magna Graecia,” 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Rossella D’Aloisio
Department of Medicine and Science of Ageing, Ophthalmology Clinic, University “G. d’Annunzio” Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
Alessio Cerquaglia
Department of Surgical and Biomedical Sciences, Section of Ophthalmology, University of Perugia, S. Maria della Misericordia Hospital, 06129 Perugia, Italy
Lucia Finocchio
Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, Eye Clinic, University of Florence, AOU Careggi, 50139 Florence, Italy
Drug delivery into the vitreous chamber remains a great challenge in the pharmaceutical industry due to the complex anatomy and physiology of the eye. Intravitreal injection is the mainstream route of drug administration to the posterior segment of the eye. The purpose of this review is to assess the current literature about the widening use of the intravitreal 0.7 mg dexamethasone (Dex) implant, and to provide a comprehensive collection of all the ocular disorders that benefit from Dex administration. Although anti-vascular endothelial growth-factors (VEGFs) have been largely indicated as a first-choice level, the Dex implant represents an important treatment option, especially in selected cases, such as vitrectomized eyes or patients in whom anti-VEGF failed or are contraindicated. In this article, the safety profile as well as the list of the possible complications related to intravitreal Dex injection are also discussed.
