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Surodex in paediatric cataract surgery
  1. S-Y Lee1,
  2. S-P Chee1,2,3,
  3. V Balakrishnan1,2,
  4. S Farzavandi1,
  5. D T H Tan1,2,3
  1. 1Singapore National Eye Centre
  2. 2Singapore Eye Research Institute
  3. 3Department of Ophthalmology, National University of Singapore
  1. Correspondence to: Soon-Phaik Chee Singapore National Eye Centre, 11 Third Hospital Avenue, Singapore 168751; cheesoonphaiksnec.com.sg

https://doi.org/10.1136/bjo.87.11.1424

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    Paediatric cataract surgery is associated with a high incidence of postoperative inflammation.1–3 Intensive topical steroid therapy is still relied upon as the conventional mode of prevention and treatment.1–4 Frequently, adjuvant systemic2–5 and/or periocular steroids3–5 may be required for further control, particularly if the child has a history of, or is at risk of, uveitis (for example, microphthalmos).5–9 Non-compliance and missed application of steroid drops into the eye impedes control of the postoperative uveitis.

    The Oculex Drug Delivery System (DDS; Oculex Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) is a biodegradable device that allows sustained drug release after insertion into the anterior chamber (AC). Surodex is a DDS with 60 μg of dexamethasone incorporated into the polymer matrix (poly(lactic-glycolic)-acid, PLGA) with sustained and controlled release of dexamethasone over 7 days, achieving higher intraocular drug levels than with conventional dexamethasone eye drops.10 Randomised controlled trials found Surodex to be as effective as 0.1% dexamethasone eye drops in the control of post-cataract surgery inflammation.10–12 Surodex is approved for use in cataract surgery in Singapore.

    We reviewed retrospectively all paediatric patients who underwent cataract surgery with the insertion of one pellet of Surodex into the AC at the conclusion of surgery. Eighteen eyes of 13 patients (nine males and four females) were diagnosed with cataracts at a mean age of 57.4 months (range 1 day to 136 months). The mean age at surgery was 66.5 months …

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    Footnotes

    • The authors have no proprietary or financial interest in Oculex Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Sunnyvale, CA, or in the product Surodex.

    • Financial support: Nil.

    • Presentation: Poster presentation at the XXIXth International Congress of Ophthalmology, Sydney, Australia. 21–25 April 2002.