title: Vision-related functioning outcomes of dexamethasone intravitreal implant in noninfectious intermediate or posterior uveitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of a single treatment with dexamethasone intravitreal implant (DEX implant) on patient-reported visual functioning in patients with noninfectious intermediate or posterior uveitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patient eyes with noninfectious intermediate or posterior uveitis were randomized to a single treatment with DEX implant 0.70 mg (n=77), DEX implant 0.35 mg (n=76), or a sham procedure (n=76) and followed for 26 weeks. Vision-related functioning was measured using the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire-25 (NEI VFQ-25) assessed at baseline and at weeks 8, 16, and 26 or early exit. Analysis of covariance and mixed model analysis of covariance were used to compare vision-related functioning between the DEX implant 0.70 and 0.35 mg groups and the sham group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  By 8 weeks, the DEX implant 0.70 mg group demonstrated significant improvements in NEI VFQ-25 subscales near vision (P=0.031), distance vision (P=0.023), peripheral vision (P=0.045), vision-specific social functioning (P=0.019), and the NEI VFQ-25 composite score (P=0.007) compared with sham. After 26 weeks, the DEX implant 0.70 mg group reported significant improvements in NEI VFQ-25 subscales distance vision (P=0.003), vision-specific role difficulties (P=0.038), vision-specific dependency (P=0.017), vision-specific social functioning (P=0.009), vision-specific mental health (P=0.036), and the composite score (P=0.001) compared with sham.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with noninfectious intermediate or posterior uveitis receiving a single treatment of DEX implant 0.70 mg, significant and clinically meaningful improvements in patient-reported visual functioning were observed as early as week 8 and were maintained over 26 weeks. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00333814.).
authors.affiliation: UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lightman
authors.forename: Rubens
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Belfort
authors.forename: Rupali K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Naik
authors.forename: Careen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lowder
authors.forename: C Stephen
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: Anne M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Rentz
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Scott M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Whitcup
authors.forename: Jonathan W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kowalski
authors.forename: Dennis A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Revicki
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004343:Drug Implants; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015866:Uveitis, Posterior / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D004343:Drug Implants; D003907:Dexamethasone
keywords: dexamethasone intravitreal implant; quality of life; treatment outcomes