Preventing relapse in non-infectious uveitis affecting the posterior segment of the eye – evaluating the 0.2 μg/day fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant (ILUVIEN(®))

BACKGROUND: The current article is a short review of an Alimera Sciences-sponsored symposium held during The 15th International Ocular Inflammation Society Congress in Taiwan on the 14th November 2019 entitled, ‘Preventing relapse of non-infectious uveitis effecting the posterior segment of the eye – evaluating the 0.2 μg/day fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant.’ MAIN TEXT: The fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant was approved in Europe for the prevention of relapse in recurrent non-infectious uveitis affecting the posterior segment of the eye and offers a systemic therapy-sparing treatment option by providing low daily dose of corticosteroid into the vitreous for up to 3 years. In the symposium, the presenters reported clinical outcomes from patients with non-infectious uveitis effecting the posterior segment of the eye to support the effectiveness and safety of the implant for up to 3 years in both randomised controlled trials and real-world practices. CONCLUSIONS: Data showed that over a 36 month period, treatment with the fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant was associated with significantly fewer episodes of uveitic recurrence, a significantly longer time to uveitic recurrence, greater improvement in visual acuity, a lower need for adjunctive therapy, and an acceptable safety profile.