The U.S. Food and Drug Administration have approved an injectable eye implant as a treatment for the retinal disease macular edema.

Allergan Inc. said Ozurdex is the first product sanctioned to treat macular edema, an eye disease where the macula, a part of the retina located at the back of the eye, swells and thickens due to fluid accumulating or leaking from retinal veins into the macula.

The Ozurdex eye implant, by delivering a high concentration of the corticosteroid dexamethasone treats macular edema. Allergan, Inc. said retinal vein occlusion is the second most common disease of the retinal veins, behind diabetic retinopathy and a significant cause of vision loss.

The eye implant is injectable, and biodegradable and was evaluated in clinical studies involving 1,300 people. It works by administering the cortical steroid dexamethasone, which treats the edema and improves vision. Common side effects observed during the trials included increased pressure, eye pain, cataract and headaches.

Allergan said the treatment was expected to be available later this year.