Table of contents
- Latest Ozurdex Injection Lawsuit Updates
- May 27, 2026: Court Sends Case Back to Trial Court
- January 22, 2026: Supreme Court Hears Argument
- November 21, 2024: Appellate Division Rules for Allergan
- March 18, 2019: UK Regulator Reports Further Recall
- February 28, 2019: Allergan Issues UK Provider Letter
- December 18, 2018: Urgent Drug Recall Goes to Providers
- November 6, 2018: Plaintiff Receives Injection from Lot E82852
- October 25, 2018: Field Alert Names 22 Lots
- October 17, 2018: FDA Does Not See a Safety Concern
- September 5, 2018: Allergan Reports Batch E83364 to the FDA
- July 23, 2018: Allergan Tells the FDA of a Possible Particle
- What Is Ozurdex?
- Who May Be Affected?
- Reported Injuries or Damages
- Recall and Regulatory Background
- Evidence to Preserve
- Filing Deadlines
- Frequently Asked Questions
- How Long Does Ozurdex Last in the Eye?
- Was Ozurdex Recalled?
- Is There an Ozurdex Injection Lawsuit?
- What Are Common Ozurdex Side Effects?
- What Does the Research Say About Ozurdex Complications?
Allergan recalled Ozurdex, an eye implant, in 2018 over a possible silicone particle from its needle sleeve. Allergan, now part of AbbVie, named 22 lots in its October 25, 2018 Field Alert.
One patient, Alison Beavan, alleges she went blind in her left eye after a November 6, 2018 injection of an Ozurdex unit from one of the recalled lots. Allergan denies the allegations.
On May 27, 2026, the New Jersey Supreme Court sent her case back to the trial court for an expert ruling. The Court has not decided whether Ozurdex caused her injury. No MDL has been formed.
Latest Ozurdex Injection Lawsuit Updates
May 27, 2026: Court Sends Case Back to Trial Court
The New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously reversed the Appellate Division in Beavan v. Allergan U.S.A., Inc., an Ozurdex injury case. It sent the case to the trial court for an expert-admissibility review under the Accutane standard [1].
The Court did not decide whether Ozurdex caused the plaintiff’s injury. It said the Appellate Division ruled on an inadequate record.
January 22, 2026: Supreme Court Hears Argument
The New Jersey Supreme Court heard argument on the plaintiff’s petition in Beavan v. Allergan U.S.A., Inc. She challenged the Appellate Division’s expert and summary judgment rulings. The Court had earlier granted her petition.
The trial court had denied Allergan’s motions to bar the experts and for summary judgment. The Appellate Division reversed. It found the expert opinions were net opinions.
November 21, 2024: Appellate Division Rules for Allergan
Bloomberg Law reported that the New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division ruled the plaintiff’s experts could not prove Ozurdex caused her blindness [2].
The court opinion quotes that ruling as finding “an utter lack of evidence of both general and specific causation.” It listed other possible causes. These included the plaintiff’s Retisert silicone insert and chronic eye inflammation.
March 18, 2019: UK Regulator Reports Further Recall
The UK MHRA alert, a company-led drug alert, says Allergan Pharmaceuticals Ireland was further recalling Ozurdex batches [3]. A single loose silicone particle of about 300 microns may become detached.
The alert notes a UK recall of certain batches in October 2018 (reference EL (18)A/16). Its own reference is MDR 95-08/18.
February 28, 2019: Allergan Issues UK Provider Letter
Allergan issued a Dear Healthcare Professional communication in the UK about the Ozurdex silicone-particle recall. A copy is attached to the MHRA alert.
December 18, 2018: Urgent Drug Recall Goes to Providers
Allergan issued an “Urgent Drug Recall” to health care providers who had received units from the recalled lots, the court opinion says.
The recall letter asked providers to quarantine inventory. It also asked them to cease supplying the recalled product lots of Ozurdex to patients.
November 6, 2018: Plaintiff Receives Injection from Lot E82852
Dr. William Phillips injected plaintiff Alison Beavan’s left eye with an Ozurdex unit from lot E82852. That lot was one of the 22 lots later recalled. The court opinion says this is undisputed.
She alleges total retinal detachment was diagnosed on November 13, 2018. She says the implant was found in the anterior chamber with corneal edema on November 26, 2018.
October 25, 2018: Field Alert Names 22 Lots
Allergan issued a Field Alert identifying 22 Ozurdex lots. Its sample testing indicated those lots were affected by the silicone particle issue. In lot E82852, 2 of 90 units, or 2.2 percent, contained a particulate, per the court opinion.
October 17, 2018: FDA Does Not See a Safety Concern
According to the court opinion, the FDA recommended that Allergan “address the problem for the sake of product quality.” The agency said it did not consider the problem “to be a safety concern.”
September 5, 2018: Allergan Reports Batch E83364 to the FDA
Allergan notified the FDA in a Field Alert that batch E83364 fell within the apparent impacted boundary. Of that batch, 38 units went to the US market. Five health care providers received those units, per the court opinion.
July 23, 2018: Allergan Tells the FDA of a Possible Particle
Allergan told the FDA that a routine inspection of Ozurdex units during assembly found a problem. In specific units, a silicone particulate could detach and be ejected with the pellet.
The court opinion describes the particulate as “rubberoid in nature” and about 300 microns at its widest. Allergan later named a potential root cause in the needle sleeve manufacturing process.
What Is Ozurdex?
According to the FDA label, Ozurdex is a corticosteroid. It is an eye implant that contains dexamethasone 0.7 mg [4]. The label lists macular edema after retinal vein occlusion, non-infectious posterior uveitis and diabetic macular edema.
Allergan makes Ozurdex. Allergan is now part of AbbVie. The implant comes in a single-use applicator. Its needle is stored in a silicone sleeve, the court opinion says.
Who May Be Affected?
People injected with Ozurdex units from one of the 22 recalled lots may be affected, such as lot E82852, used on November 6, 2018.
Eyes where the posterior lens capsule is absent or torn are at risk of implant migration to the anterior chamber. The FDA label already lists this risk.
The one court case involves a patient with years of uveitis and many prior Ozurdex injections. A lawyer’s individual legal review can tell you whether you have a claim.
Reported Injuries or Damages
Alison Beavan alleges blurred vision and a blind spot in her left eye after the injection. A partial corneal transplant was recommended.
She says she is now completely blind in that eye. Her expert blamed a silicone particulate. Allergan denies that. The court has not decided causation.
Allergan’s expert said no evidence shows her unit gave off a silicone particle. Her experts conceded nobody could identify or document one.
Allergan’s recall letter named these possible risks. One was mild transient visual disturbance. Another was intraocular inflammatory reaction in sensitive patients. It also named a remote possibility of corneal reaction if the particulate migrates to the anterior chamber.
Celik and colleagues reviewed 1241 patients who had the dexamethasone implant. They found 10 cases of the implant moving into the anterior chamber. This typically happened in patients with preexisting risk factors [5].
Research on repeated Ozurdex injections by Bahadorani and colleagues found no increase in pressure spikes beyond 30 mmHg across 183 injections. They still advised close monitoring for patients with a history of primary open angle glaucoma [6].
Recall and Regulatory Background
The American Academy of Ophthalmology alert reports that Allergan voluntarily recalled the lots because a particle of about 300 microns may detach from the needle sleeve during administration [7].
The AAO alert says providers were advised to return affected batches and asks that adverse reactions be reported to the FDA.
A recall does not by itself prove that a product caused harm or that anyone is liable. Each patient’s situation still depends on the facts.
Evidence to Preserve
Lot E82852 and the treating records were central to the court case. Keep these items if you had an Ozurdex injection:
- The Ozurdex lot number and expiration date from the carton, applicator or the clinic’s record
- The date and clinic of each injection
- Any recall or Field Alert letter from your provider
- Medical records from the injecting ophthalmologist and any retina, cornea or glaucoma specialist
- Imaging and surgical reports
- Photographs and a symptom log
- Bills, insurance statements and communications with the clinic or manufacturer
Filing Deadlines
State law sets the time limit for an eye injury claim. The limit depends on where you live and on when the injury and its cause came to light.
In some states the clock starts at diagnosis. If you miss the limit, a claim can end, even when the facts are strong.
Ask a lawyer which limit may apply to you. Do it soon, because the clock may already be running on a claim from your injection.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does Ozurdex Last in the Eye?
How long Ozurdex lasts in the eye varies. Its effect on vision peaks at about 3 months after treatment and then diminishes, per the FDA label. In the label’s trials, treatments were at least 6 months apart.
Was Ozurdex Recalled?
Yes, Ozurdex was recalled in 2018. Allergan sent the FDA a draft Dear Health Care Provider letter on October 3, 2018 listing possible risks. Allergan’s expert says the FDA never approved it, so it was not sent.
Is There an Ozurdex Injection Lawsuit?
Yes, there is an Ozurdex injection lawsuit. Beavan v. Allergan U.S.A., Inc. concerns one injection. Alison Beavan, a Maryland resident, brought it, and her expert, Dr. Maziar Lalezary, opined the injection dispensed a silicone particulate. Allergan asserted FDCA preemption.
What Are Common Ozurdex Side Effects?
Common Ozurdex side effects in the label’s controlled studies were cataract, increased intraocular pressure and conjunctival hemorrhage. The FDA label says 20-70% of patients reported these reactions.
What Does the Research Say About Ozurdex Complications?
Research on Ozurdex complications by Celik and colleagues at Heidelberg found significant complications in 21 procedures, or 1.69%. They also reported one case of endophthalmitis and four retinal detachments among the 1241 patients reviewed.