Bit of back story; few years ago I was diagnosed with eye cancer and received proton beam therapy treatment for it. This worked excellent and killed off the tumour!
As expected I've now begin to lose my central vision due to a bleed cause by radiation damage. I've been having injections every 4-6 weeks to try and counteract this but unfortunately the injections have stopped working
I've been offered the option of the Ozurdex dexamethasone intravitreal impant but I am feeling apprehensive about starting a new treatment. Just trying to find out as much information as I can really. Have any of you had a similar experience? Did yous benefit from the implant? Is it a more painful/uncomfortable experience than the injections?
I'm just trying to work out if it will be worth trying. I'm 26 and worried about my vision deterioration effecting my work etc. Any opinions good or bad will be a great help!
Thank you!
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Eyerecovery1
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Looking at the ozadurex links it looks like a statistical outcome which falls short of 100%. However I would be asking the senior consultant what the real stats are! Is it true that no treatment would mean loss of the use of the eye? If so the decision might be easier. At your age you deserve the attention of the best there is. Do you need help to find it?
From what I've read it seems to have a good success rate! Yes, no treatment would result in my central vision in that eye being a big dark circle essentially. Yes would like to hold onto my vision as long as I can!
Thank you for responding
Hi, sending you a big hug X you've gone through a lot so young x I had lucentis and eyelea inj for years for my brvo oedema but got changed to ozurdex when the antivegf inj became less effective.
My experience of 4 implants:
1 Painless - better than the inj.! They give you an anaesthetic inj after the anaesthetic drops which doesn't hurt and you dont feel the implant. They may rub the eye after which is weird but painless - my Dr said its to smooth out the indented path of the implant going in which makes sense ( the implant is tiny though).
2 Effective - although had to have more than 1 they each worked for longer than the inj. Due to production problems with the implants I am back on eyelea and it definitely isn't working as well as the steroid did.
3 The longer time between procedures was wonderful emotionally.
4 All my floaters disappeared ( got some back now after eyelea). You may see the implant like a black lozenge bobbing about but its no more distracting than after some inj. and it goes after a while as its dissolving.
5 Downside - got accelerated cataract in treated eye ( after 2 implants) and also cataract in ' good' eye ( which one Dr said wouldn't happen but I don't think it was a coincidence). Cataract was treated successfully and was a painless op but there are risks with everything.
5 Unclear how many implants they will give if oedema persists - it is a greater trauma to the eye - they were cagey at the start but now tell me as long as i show some response they will continue but I assume can go back to monthly inj if necessary though I feel now like that would be a last resort.
I wasn't keen on having implant as it felt like the end of the road but now I can't have one I miss it lol.
Where are you? It seems like the production problems may be resolved if you are being offered an implant.
Whatever you decide good luck going forwards. Come back and tell us how you get on x
Wow! Thank you so much! This reply has definitely helped to ease my worries alittle bit. I was really worried about the actually implant injection being bad as the doctor said it was a bigger needle and I thought oh no! Haha
Definitely more appealing that you get it done every 3 months instead of 4 weeks. It can be quite hard putting yourself through that every month.
My treatment is based in Liverpool the team there have been absolutely brilliant all the way through! Where do you go for yours? Ah yeah I read something about plastic being in them so they were recalled?
Thank you so much for your reply! Been a great help so nice to find a place to talk about this kind of thing! Wish I'd of found it sooner!
Thank you, I use drops for lubrication everyday so it this happens a few more drops won't make too much difference. I've decided to go ahead and try the implant just waiting for an appointment now nervous but hopeful it will help my eye sight!
A friend of mine had three and it worked for him. Its taking me a bit longer..... Hope you get a good result x
Hi I too suffered eye cancer treated 13yrs ago. I have had one Ozurdex implant and 80 anti-VEGF injections.
The dangers with Ozurdex are almost certain cataract and very probably glaucoma. Cataract is easily resolved in most instances but glaucoma generally means eye drops for life.
The upside is that it can often decrease the oedema and it lasts for up to 6 months.
I know of patients who have had good results and are prepared to accept the lifelong drops.
Incidentally, if you are in the UK are you a member of OcuMel UK? Free to join lots of specific guidance and the only eye cancer charity in the UK.
Hi thanks for the reply! 80 injections?! Wow they must really work for you!
Yes I have seen that there are almost certain side effect with the implant the drops wouldn't bother me too much as I use drops all the time anyway for dry eye in my treated eye. Would be brill if it could help decrease the odema.
No I'm not a member I hadn't heard about it but will check it out thank you.
I'm seen mostly by professor Heimann and his team. Good to know there isn't any pain with getting the implant done.
If you go to ocumeluk.org.uk you can see the conference videos and/or you can look at the ocumel uk facebook site for free.
Just an update, I am treated at Liverpool too since 1994, no doubt you are seen by Mr Carl Groenwald an outstanding retinologist if a touch brusque sounding sometimes!
I had not the slightest pain or even sensation with the implant or for that matter any of my other injections.
Liverpool do not give an injection after the anaesthetic drops. It seems to be an individual preference of the practitioner.
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nervous but hopeful it will help my eye sight! 
1st Ozurdex - expectations 
Ozurdex and cataract.
Update review after 3rd ozurdex - now cataracts!
