Intraocular sustained delivery devices in the management of vitreoretinal disorders

Lars-Olof Hattenbach (Frankfurt/M.)

The management of severe disorders of the posterior segment of the eye often requires the systemic administration of drugs. However, because the chronic use of steroids or chemotherapeutic agents frequently is associated with severe side effects,
there is a need to develop new ophthalmic drug targeting strategies.
Surgically implantable devices designed to deliver therapeutic vitreous levels of drugs in a linear manner over an extended period of time appear to show great promise in the management of various ocular diseases.
Several experimental and clinical studies on the use of intravitreal sustained delivery devices are reviewed to evaluate safety and efficacy of this therapeutic approach. Potential indications are discussed. Moreover, we report on our experiences and ongoing clinical trials. The current data suggest that intravitreal sustained release drug implants have the potential to be of value in the management of various ocular disorders such as non-infectious uveitis or diabetic retinopathy.



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