Ozurdex Recall Attorneys in Los Angeles

If You Received This Intravitreal Implant between November 2016 and December 2018 and Your Vision Suffered, You May Have a Claim

Ozurdex, made by Allergan, is an injectable implant that releases dexamethasone, a corticosteroid, into your eye. Its use has been increasing since 2014, when it was approved to treat a wider variety of conditions; doctors now recommend this treatment to patients with:

• Macular edema secondary to branch or central retinal vein occlusion (BRVO/CRVO)
• Noninfectious posterior uveitis
• Diabetic macular edema (DME)

Once it is injected, the product dissolves, providing a slow-release delivery of corticosteroid dexamethasone, which can reduce inflammation of the retina to help patients see better.

However, in December 2018, after many batches of Ozurdex were recalled in 7 other countries around the world, Allergan recalled 22 separate lots of Ozurdex here in the U.S. Allergan indicated that the reason for the recall, which it reported to the FDA, was that during a routine inspection a silicone particulate approximately 300 microns in diameter was observed in the implants. Allergan confirmed that the silicone particulate originated from the needle sleeve used to inject the implant into the patient’s eye. The Ozurdex injections had been distributed by Allergan in the U.S. between November 2016 and November 2018. Allergan reported that there was a remote possibility of corneal reaction if the particulate migrates to the anterior chamber of the patient’s eye.

Patients who were injected with recalled Ozurdex can experience injuries including retinal detachments, corneal damage, the need for surgery and even the need for corneal grafting and transplant surgeries. Additionally, patients injured by the injection of an Ozurdex product that was later recalled, can suffer permanent blindness from the destruction caused by toxic levels of migrated steroid.

The complications of an Ozurdex migration are both uncomfortable and expensive for patients. If you have gone through this painful process, you might be able to receive compensation for your damages. Our experienced team at Shoop | A Professional Law Corporation has been helping injured patients file cases against the manufacturers of defective medical devices for decades. We want to help you receive the compensation you deserve after this ordeal.

Call Shoop | A Professional Law Corporation at (866) 884-1717 or send us a message to schedule a free consultation with our attorneys. Our team has served injured patients across the U.S.

How Can Ozurdex Harm Patients?

Ozurdex comes with many potential side effects of differing severity. It can cause:

• Cataract formation
• Steroid-induced glaucoma
• Increased intraocular pressure
• Migration of the implant into the anterior chamber of the eye

The last possible complication is the worst for patients. When an Ozurdex implant migrates, it can cause physical or chemical damage to other parts of the eye. This includes:

• Damage to the corneal endothelium
• Corneal edema (swelling)
• Permanent corneal decompensation

The sooner the migration is caught and treated, the less likely patients are to experience enduring symptoms. The most effective treatment is typically removal of the device. However, some patients will find the implant will disintegrate, complicating this process.

For those who do experience corneal edema, current data shows this problem may be more likely to persist than to heal itself. In a survey of patients who had suffered an Ozurdex migration, nearly 50% of those who developed corneal edema eventually required a corneal transplant.

Spotting Signs of Ozurdex Defects

For most patients who experience Ozurdex migration, you will notice symptoms within the first 6 weeks after the implant. However, no matter the timeframe of your symptoms’ appearance, you should consult your optometrist for help.

Who Is at Risk?

The problems with Ozurdex migration have mainly occurred in patients who have undergone medical procedures that either compromised the integrity of the lens or removed it entirely. A history of vitrectomy surgery is often an indicator a patient will have problems. Those with the following should stay wary for complications after an implant:

• Aphakia
• Pseudophakia
• No lens capsule
• Zonular dehiscence
• Anterior chamber intraocular lens (ACIoL)
• Posterior chamber intraocular lens (PCIoL)

Though the average age of patients affected was 65, this may be due to higher levels of Ozurdex use among older populations. There is no known age boundary that dictates who may and may not be affected.

Know the Symptoms of Ozurdex Migration

Swelling of the cornea (corneal edema) affects a patient’s vision and may cause discomfort as well. If you’ve recently had an Ozurdex implant, the following symptoms could signal a migration:

• Blurry vision
• Double vision
• Clouding
• Blind spots
• Glare or “halos” around lights
• Eye sensitivity to light and/or touch
• Eye pain
• Scratching sensation in eye
• Formation of blisters on the surface of the eye

If you are experiencing these symptoms, it’s important to reach out to your eye doctor quickly. Even a few days’ delay in receiving treatment could result in lasting damage to your vision. When you are given an official diagnosis, you will also have the first piece of evidence you need to file a claim for compensation.

We’re Here to Help with Ozurdex Migration Claims

Vision damage can affect a person’s ability to participate in everyday life and cause extreme distress and decreased quality of life. Though there may be options, like corneal transplantation, to help patients recover, additional medical care is often prohibitively expensive, not to mention painful. If you were injured by a migrating Ozurdex implant, you deserve compensation to help you deal with the aftereffects so you can return to your life.

Anyone who is suffering the effects of an Ozurdex migration should also reach out to an attorney as soon as possible. We can help make sure vital evidence for your claim is not lost. We are also here to provide practical legal guidance so you know what you can expect from your case. Our attorneys have over 35 years of combined experience helping patients with defective medical device claims. Though we often end up squaring off against multi-billion-dollar companies, we are willing to do whatever it takes to fight for our clients. We will not let ourselves be intimidated by big corporations’ scare tactics, especially when justice for your struggles is on the line.

Call us at (866) 884-1717 to schedule a free consultation with the Shoop | A Professional Law Corporation team. We have the experience to take on complex cases regarding dangerous Ozurdex migrations.