INTRAVITREAL DEXAMETHASONE IMPLANTATION for BIRDSHOT CHORIORETINOPATHY

Purpose: Birdshot chorioretinopathy is a rare form of posterior uveitis. This article reports a case series of patients with HLA-A29+ birdshot chorioretinopathy managed with intravitreal dexamethasone implants. Methods: Retrospective case report. Results: Three patients with birdshot chorioretinopathy (6 eyes) were seen from 2013 to 2015 and managed with dexamethasone intravitreal implant; there was an average of 6 months between implants. All 3 experienced control of ocular inflammation and macular edema with intravitreal dexamethasone and achieved best-corrected visual acuity of at least 20/25 during the course of treatment. Two patients tolerated serial dexamethasone implants for over a year without glaucoma or cataract surgery. Dexamethasone implantation was not repeated in one patient with preexisting uveitic glaucoma because of persistently elevated intraocular pressure. In this series, all patients had improvement in visual acuity, macular edema, intraocular inflammation, and quality of life, and no patients developed visually significant cataracts. Only one eye with preexisting uveitic glaucoma exhibited an increased intraocular pressure requiring discontinuation of therapy. Conclusion: Intravitreal dexamethasone implant can be an effective alternative in the management of birdshot chorioretinopathy.