title: Vitreous pillow for sustained-release intravitreous drug delivery implants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Intravitreous drug delivery systems are injected or surgically implanted for sustained release of drugs to the posterior segment for conditions such as vein occlusions and diabetic macular edema. Since these devices rely upon the vitreous body for support, concerns regarding their migration and prolonged direct retinal contact have limited their use in vitrectomized eyes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three patients with persistent macular edema received dexamethasone intravitreal implantation following vitrectomy employing the authors' novel technique for embedding the system in a residual inferior vitreous skirt that serves as a pillow on which the implant rests after pars plana vitrectomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At minimum 6-month follow-up, all patients had improved visual acuity and improved central retinal thickness on optical coherence tomography, were without complaints of floaters or migration of the implant, and were without complications. The implant consistently remained embedded in the inferior vitreous skirt.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The technique may mitigate concerns regarding implant migration and direct retina contact.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Kapil G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Kapoor
authors.forename: Ryan W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Shultz
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Iezzi
mesh_terms: D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004343:Drug Implants; D019773:Epiretinal Membrane / Q000150:complications; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000150:complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D004343:Drug Implants; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone