Study of the Effectiveness of Ozurdex for the Control of Uveitis

The main purpose of this study is to evaluate whether or not the dexamethasone pellet (Ozurdex®, Allergan, Irvine, CA) can replace oral corticosteroid (e.g. prednisone) in the treatment of active sight-threatening, noninfectious intermediate and/or posterior uveitis in which immunosuppressive drug therapy is indicated. Uveitis is an inflammation inside the eye. Uveitis can decrease patients' vision if it is not treated. The dexamethasone pellet is an implant filled with a corticosteroid medicine. This therapy is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of intermediate and/or posterior uveitis. In this study investigators want to see if using the implant together with systemic immunosuppressive drug therapy can result in lower ocular side effect profile but is effective enough to replace the use of high-dose systemic corticosteroids in the treatment of active intermediate and/or posterior uveitis. Knowing the effectiveness and safety of these treatments is important because the kinds of uveitis being studied usually need to be treated for many years. This information may help researchers understand uveitis better and may suggest ways of improving treatment. Adult patients with intermediate and/or posterior uveitis for which immunosuppressive drug therapy with high-dose corticosteroid is planned may join.