Comparison of antimetabolite drugs as corticosteroid-sparing therapy for noninfectious ocular inflammation.

To compare the relative effectiveness and side effect profiles of antimetabolite drugs in the treatment of noninfectious ocular inflammation. Retrospective cohort study. A total of 257 patients with inflammatory eye disease seen in a single-center, academic practice and treated with an antimetabolite as a first-line immunosuppressive agent from 1984 to 2006. Data recorded included demographics, antimetabolite and prednisone doses, use of other immunosuppressive drugs, response to therapy, and side effects associated with drug use. Ability to control ocular inflammation and to taper prednisone to