Efficacy of 0.19 mg Fluocinolone Acetonide Implant in Non-infectious Posterior Uveitis Evaluated as Area Under the Curve

INTRODUCTION: This study reports the outcomes of fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant (FAc, Iluvien(®), SIFI, Italy) in patients affected by macular edema secondary to chronic non-infectious uveitis of the posterior segment (NIU-PS). METHODS: This was a retrospective study of patients with NIU-PS and macular thickening undergoing FAc implant at San Raffaele Hospital (Milan, Italy). Clinical data, including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), and central macular thickness (CMT), were collected at the time of FAc administration (baseline) and at 1, 6, and 12 months. The area under the curve (AUC) of the BCVA (AUC(BCVA)) and CMT (AUC(CMT)) was correlated with baseline factors; β estimates and 95% confidence interval (CI) are provided. RESULTS: Ten eyes of seven patients (60 ± 12 years; 4 male, 57%) were included. The BCVA significantly improved from month 6 (p = 0.03). The CMT improved from month 1 and was persistently lower than baseline until month 12 (p < 0.001). The AUC(BCVA) correlated with baseline BCVA (β = 2.5 logMAR; 95% CI 1.59–3.41; p < 0.001), while the mean AUC(CMT) positively correlated with the baseline CMT (β = 2.1 μm; 95% CI 0.41–3.80; p = 0.02). No adverse events were recorded over 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: Better visual acuity at the time of FAc administration was associated with better visual function after FAc. Less severe macular edema correlated with better anatomic response. The FAc implant was a safe option for resolving macular edema secondary to NIU-PS.