Drug Delivery Options for the Treatment of Ocular Inflammation

Treatments available for ocular inflammatory diseases and their associated complications have expanded significantly over the course of the last ten years. While corticosteroids are a mainstay of therapy for uveitis and macular edema, the methods of delivering corticosteroids have evolved. Intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide provides a local therapy for persistent cystoid macular edema (CME) and posterior uveitis. Other intravitreal therapies, such as bevacizumab and methotrexate, have also been used successfully in uveitic CME. Sustained release intravitreal implants, including the fluocinolone acetonide implant and the dexamethasone drug delivery system, offer an alternative therapy for chronic, recalcitrant posterior uveitis and CME. Their design was inspired by the ganciclovir implant, which prevented the progression of CMV retinitis in AIDS patients. Technological advances in drug delivery have supplied new treatments for patients with ocular inflammatory disease.