Clinical Applications of Dexamethasone for Aged Eyes

Drugs Aging. 2016 Sep;33(9):639-46. doi: 10.1007/s40266-016-0392-z.

Abstract

The risk of severe eye problems has been found to increase significantly with age, particularly between the fifth and sixth decades of life. Cataracts, dry eye, neovascular age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and retinal vein occlusion (RVO) are very common and very different age-related ocular diseases that reduce the patient's quality of life. The rationale for using corticosteroids to treat anterior and posterior ocular segment diseases is driven by inflammation. Dexamethasone, one of the most powerful corticosteroids available, is widely used for topical or intravitreal administration. Topical dexamethasone has proven efficacy for the management of postoperative inflammation in the anterior segment after cataract surgery and symptom relief in dry-eye disease. A new sustained-release 700 µg dexamethasone intravitreal implant (DEX) was recently approved for the treatment of macular edema following RVO, diabetic macular edema, or non-infectious uveitis, and its use is increasing, especially when other therapeutic agents have failed. The most common side effects are increased intraocular pressure and cataract formation. The potency of DEX, alone or in combination with other agents, makes DEX a promising option for treating several retinal diseases.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Topical
  • Aged
  • Cataract / drug therapy
  • Dexamethasone / administration & dosage
  • Dexamethasone / adverse effects
  • Dexamethasone / pharmacokinetics
  • Dexamethasone / therapeutic use*
  • Dry Eye Syndromes / drug therapy
  • Eye Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Eye Diseases / immunology
  • Eye Diseases / pathology
  • Glucocorticoids / administration & dosage
  • Glucocorticoids / adverse effects
  • Glucocorticoids / pharmacokinetics
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Intraocular Pressure / drug effects
  • Intravitreal Injections
  • Macular Degeneration / drug therapy
  • Quality of Life
  • Retinal Vein Occlusion / drug therapy
  • Uveitis / drug therapy

Substances

  • Glucocorticoids
  • Dexamethasone