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Surgeon: Implant has ‘potential’ for uveitis treatment
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NUREMBERG, Germany — An implant for the treatment of uveitis that is not yet approved in Europe has potential, but surgeons should still be cautious with its use, Frank Koch, MD, said. He spoke here at the German Ophthalmic Surgeons meeting about Bausch & Lomb’s Retisert implant.
Dr. Koch called for more studies with Retisert (fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant), saying its potential for treating uveitis has not yet been proven.
“We need more studies,” Dr. Koch said.
Dr. Koch said studies have shown that the uveitis relapse rate can be decreased and the systemic administration of immunosuppressant can be reduced after implantation with Retisert. Topical steroid use can also be reduced, he said.
However, studies from the United States indicated an increased rate of glaucoma — as high as 30% — but that the causes remain unknown, Dr. Koch said.
To implant Retisert, surgeons need to create a 3.5-mm incision, Dr. Koch said. He suggests anchoring a prolene suture into the incision, then pulling the implant down into the eye so the front of the implant faces the vitreous.
“You want to guarantee that the implant will not touch the lens and will not hurt the retina,” he said.
The procedure is not without a significant learning curve, Dr. Koch said. He advised surgeons use caution when performing this type of surgery.
“The vitreous tends to want to ‘push out’ the implant,” he said. “That’s why I am critical of the procedure.”