Sustained release intraocular implants and methods for treating ocular vasculopathies

A method of treating glaucoma, the method comprising the step of placing in an eye a biodegradable intraocular implant comprising an alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist associated with a biodegradable polymer matrix, thereby treating the glaucoma, wherein:

• a) said implant is an extruded filament;
• b) said biodegradable polymer matrix consists of a poly(D,L-lactide) polymer having an inherent viscosity of about 0.3 dL/g and a 50:50 poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) polymer having an inherent viscosity of about 0.2 dL/g in a 1:1 ratio;
• c) said alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist is a brimonidine freebase;
• d) said brimonidine freebase is about 40 weight percent of the implant;
• and wherein
• e) the duration of release of brimonidine freebase from the implant in vitro in phosphate buffered saline at 37° C. is approximately 2 months.