Surgical Intervention of Steroid-Induced Ocular Hypertension from Ozurdex

Abstract

To present a case study on the management of ocular hypertension induced by repeated Ozurdex implants. A 51-year-old white man presented to the Tallahassee Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic as requested by the retinal specialist for an intraocular pressure (IOP) check. Two months before this visit, the patient was given an Ozurdex implant in each eye for reoccurring diabetic macular edema. Subsequent follow-up examinations documented the intervals between repeated Ozurdex implants and the increase in IOP, with progression to surgical intervention to control eye pressures. Results from previous studies and this case report indicate that maximum IOP occurs at approximately 8 weeks after injection of an Ozurdex implant. Although most patients can be managed by IOP-lowering medications, this case is unique because it is an example of repeated implants at approximately 4-month intervals that led to surgical intervention to control IOP. Evidence-based knowledge of Ozurdex as reviewed in this article will lead to better patient postoperative management.