Ozurdex is an eye implant that has been linked to serious eye injuries, such as migrating out of position, corneal damage, vision loss, and needing another surgery.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Ozurdex injury cases in all 50 states. If you were injured by Ozurdex migration, corneal damage, or you needed surgery for problems with Ozurdex, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Medical Device Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
What is the Problem?
Ozurdex® is a tiny anti-inflammatory implant that is injected into the eye, where it slowly releases dexamethasone and then dissolves.
The problem is that in recent reports, patients have been seriously injured when Ozurdex implants migrated out of position. There are also reports of patients who developed corneal damage, vision loss, or needed another surgery.
What is the Risk?
Ozurdex has been linked to severe side effects, such as:
- Ozurdex migration
- Vision loss
- Blindness
- Cornea damage (also called corneal degradation, corneal degeneration, or corneal decompensation)
- Corneal edema (eye swelling)
- Cornea epithelial cell damage
- Corneal lesions
- Ozurdex implant removal surgery
- Cornea transplant
What Happens When Ozurdex Moves Out of Position?
In these case reports, Ozurdex implants “migrated into the anterior chamber, potentially causing corneal decompensation.”
When Ozurdex moves out of position, patients may need to have another surgery to remove the Ozurdex implant or try to move it back into the proper position. In patients who have severe damage to the cornea, the doctor may need to remove Ozurdex and also do a cornea transplant.
Ozurdex Migration and Cornea Damage
Ozurdex can migrate to the anterior chamber of the eye, which is located behind the cornea. Migration has also been linked to corneal damage in some reports. Ozurdex is linked to a type of corneal damage that is also known as corneal degeneration, a severe eye injury that causes vision loss due to a loss of clarity and function of the cornea.
What is the Cornea?
The cornea is the clear dome-shaped front part of the eye. It acts as a shield to protect the eye from dust and dirt. If the cornea is severely damaged, the only cure is a corneal transplant.
Cornea Transplant May Help Restore Vision
Damage to the cornea is a vision-threatening eye injury. In severe cases, patients may need a cornea transplant, which is a surgical procedure to remove a damaged cornea and replace it with a healthy cornea from a deceased organ donor.
Studies Linking Ozurdex Migration and Corneal Damage
A growing number of studies and case reports have been published on the issues of Ozurdex migration and corneal damage.
For example, this recent study warned that Ozurdex “use is associated with significant risks, particularly unexpected and severe complications such as corneal decompensation.” (Zhao 2025)
This warning was supported by multiple case reports describing Ozurdex migration into the anterior chamber of the eye, including:
- Depla, 2022 – Active Removal of anterior-segment-migrated dexamethasaone implant (Ozurdex) — GMS Opthalmology Cases 2022, Vol. 12, 2193-1496.
- Kayikcioglu 2020 – Anterior Chamber Migration of Ozurdex Implants. — Turk J Opthamolmol. 2020; 50:115-122.
- Majumder 2018 – Anterior chamber migration of a sustained-release dexamethasone intravitreal implant: A case report and review of the literature. — Oman J. Opthamol. 2019; 12:133-7.
- Pacella 2016 – Management of anterior chamber dislocation of a dexamaethasone intravitreal implant: a case report. — J. Medical Case Reports 2016; 10:282.
Ozurdex Label Does Not Warn Patients About Corneal Damage
The Ozurdex Prescribing Information warns about the risk of migration in patients with posterior lens capsule tears or ruptures: “Ozurdex® is contraindicated in patients whose posterior lens capsule is torn or ruptured because of the risk of migration into the anterior chamber.”
Patient Risk-Factors For Ozurdex Migrations
Ozurdex migration is more likely to occur in patients with a torn or ruptured posterior lens capsule (which is usually due to a bad cataract surgery). Tears or ruptures are risk-factors for Ozurdex migrations, but patients might have a minor tear that is undiagnosed. There is no way for doctors to know in advance if the patient has a minor tear before implanting Ozurdex.
Warning Signs & Symptoms of Cornea Damage
The symptoms of corneal degradation may include:
- Eye pain
- Blurry vision
- Red or watery eyes
- Sensitivity to light
- Distorted vision
- Stinging or burning eyes
- Vision loss
- Blindness
What is Ozurdex?
Ozurdex® is an implant that is injected into the eye to treat swelling and inflammation from eye diseases, such as:
- Macular edema due to retinal vein occlusion
- Diabetic macular edema (DME)
- Non-infectious uveitis affecting the posterior segment of the eye
What Eye Diseases Does Ozurdex Treat?
Ozurdex is an anti-inflammatory eye implant that is manufactured by Allergan. It was first FDA approved in 2009 for the treatment of macular edema due to blocked retinal veins. Since then, the FDA has expanded approval of Ozurdex to include diabetic macular edema and uveitis. Left untreated, all of these eye diseases can cause chronic inflammation, swelling, vision loss, and blindness.
How Does Ozurdex Work?
Ozurdex is also called a “dexamethasone intravitreal implant.” It is a small rod-shaped implant that is injected into the eye, where it slowly releases 700 μg of an anti-inflammatory medication called dexamethasone. After all of the medication is released, Ozurdex dissolves naturally so that it does not need to be removed.
Ozurdex Recall
In October 2018, Allergan recalled certain batches of Ozurdex because a loose silicone particle could detach from the needle sleeve during the implant procedure, and be delivered into the eye with the implant.
The recall warned: “Potential reactions include mild transient visual disturbances, intraocular inflammation and a remote possibility of corneal reaction if the particle migrates into the anterior chamber.”
Ozurdex Lawsuits
Lawsuits have been filed by patients who were severely injured by Ozurdex. These lawsuits accuse Allergan of failing to adequately warn patients and doctors about the risk of certain complications.
Our law firm is investigating cases involving Ozurdex migrations and corneal damage. If you were diagnosed with this type of injury, we can evaluate your case and let you know if you may have a legal claim.
How Can a Lawsuit Help?
Lawsuits involving defective medical devices will typically seek financial compensation from the manufacturer. Patients who decide to file a lawsuit may be able to recover damages for their injuries, pain and suffering, long-term injuries (such as vision loss or blindness), lost income, and more.
Do I Have an Ozurdex Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Ozurdex induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you were injured by Ozurdex migration, corneal damage, or you needed surgery for Ozurdex, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Medical Device Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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