Ozurdex (Dexamethasone)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Ozurdex Used For?
Ozurdex contains dexamethasone, a corticosteroid that comes in a small implant injected into the back of your eye. It works by reducing swelling to help prevent damage to the light-sensitive layer at the back of your eye.
Primary Uses
Ozurdex treats adult patients with Diabetic Macular Oedema (swelling of the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye in people with diabetes), vision loss caused by blocked veins in the eye that leads to fluid buildup and swelling, and Uveitis (inflammation affecting the layer of blood vessels between the white of the eye and retina).
How It Works
Ozurdex reduces swelling in the eye, which helps lessen or prevent more damage to the macula (the part of your eye responsible for central vision used for tasks like reading).
How to Take Ozurdex
Ozurdex will be given to you by a qualified eye doctor as a single injection into your eye under sterile conditions. Before the injection, your doctor will use antibiotic eye drops and clean your eye carefully to prevent infection, and give you local anesthetic to reduce pain.
Dosage Instructions
Ozurdex is given as a single injection into your eye. You may hear a ‘click’ during injection – this is normal. Your doctor will not inject both eyes at the same time as this has not been studied. If your condition worsens, your doctor may give you another injection. Follow all directions from your doctor carefully.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If you miss an Ozurdex appointment, contact your doctor as soon as possible to arrange another appointment.
Important: Your doctor should not inject Ozurdex into both eyes at the same time as this has not been studied and is not recommended.
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- eyelid itching
- redness of the eye
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- decreased vision
- blurred vision
- distorted vision
- eye pain or increased discomfort
- worsening eye redness
- feeling of spots in front of the eye or seeing floaters
- increased sensitivity to light
- unusual discharge from the eye
- bleeding or swelling on the front of the eye
- seeing flashes of light
- headache or migraine
Important Warnings
There are several important conditions and situations where Ozurdex should not be used, and others where special caution is needed.
Who Should Not Take Ozurdex
Do not use Ozurdex if you have an allergy to dexamethasone or any ingredients, any infection in or around your eyes (bacterial, viral, or fungal), advanced glaucoma or high eye pressure that cannot be controlled with medications alone, if the eye to be treated does not have a lens and the back of the lens capsule has been ruptured, or if the eye has a man-made lens implanted in the front compartment after cataract surgery with a ruptured lens capsule.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have had cataract surgery, iris surgery, or surgery to remove gel from within the eye, are taking blood thinning medicines, are taking steroid or anti-inflammatory medicines by mouth or applied to the eye, or have had a herpes simplex infection in your eye in the past.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed. Like most medicines, Ozurdex should not be used during pregnancy unless clearly necessary.
Eye Pressure Monitoring: In some patients, eye pressure may increase after injection. This increase can occur at any time and you may not notice it, so your doctor will monitor you regularly after treatment.
Drug Interactions
Tell your doctor about all medicines you are taking, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and supplements.
- Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics following surgery – these are safe to use with Ozurdex
Alcohol & Driving
You may experience temporarily reduced vision after being treated with Ozurdex, which can affect your ability to drive or operate machinery safely.
Driving and Operating Machinery
You should not drive or operate machinery until your vision has returned to normal. Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how Ozurdex affects you.
Storage
The hospital or clinic will store your medicine before use below 25°C and protect it from excessive heat.
Overdose Information
If you think you have been given too much Ozurdex, you may need urgent medical attention. Immediately phone the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital, even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
Frequently Asked Questions
The source doesn’t specify exact timing, but Ozurdex works by reducing swelling in the eye. Your doctor will monitor your progress and determine if additional treatments are needed based on your response.
Ozurdex is given as a single injection. If your condition worsens, your doctor may administer Ozurdex again. Your doctor will advise you and decide how long you should be treated with Ozurdex.
Your doctor will give you a local anesthetic to reduce or prevent any pain you might have with the injection. You may hear a ‘click’ during the injection – this is normal.
Contact your doctor immediately if you notice blurred or decreased vision, eye pain, worsening eye redness, spots in front of your eye, increased light sensitivity, unusual eye discharge, bleeding or swelling on the front of the eye, flashes of light, or headache.
No, injection of Ozurdex into both eyes at the same time has not been studied and is not recommended. Your doctor should not inject both eyes simultaneously.
Some patients may experience increased eye pressure for a short period after injection, or it can occur at any time following injection. You may not notice this, so your doctor will monitor you regularly after treatment.
If you decide not to receive a repeat Ozurdex treatment, go to your next appointment and discuss this with your doctor. Your doctor will advise you and decide how long you should be treated.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.