Uveitis medical therapy
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Medical therapy
Uveitis is typically treated with glucocorticoid steroids, either as topical eye drops (such as betamethasone, dexamethasone or prednisolone) or oral therapy with prednisolone tablets. In addition topical cycloplegics, such as atropine or homatropine, may be used. If the uveitis is caused by a body-wide infection, treatment may involve antibiotics and powerful anti-inflammatory medicines corticosteroids. In some cases an injection of PSTTA can also be given to reduce the swelling of the eye. [1]
Antimetabolite medications, such as methotrexate are often used for recalcitrant or more aggressive cases of uveitis. Experimental treatment with Infliximab infusions may prove helpful.
More specifically, the treatment regimen differs among the various forms of uveitis:
- Anterior Uveitis is usually mild. Treatment may involve: dark glasses, eye drops that dilate the pupil to relieve pain, and steroid eye drops or ointment. In the event that uveitis is unresponsive to drops and ointments, steroids may be injected next to the eye and rarely, steroid pills may be prescribed. Additionally, if the uveitis causes an increase in eye pressure, the doctor may lower the pressure to avoid damage to the optic nerve by prescribing eye drops.
- Intermediate Uveitis and Posterior Uveitis treatment often depend on the underlying cause of the inflammation. If the cause is non-infectious, treatment is administered to reduce inflammation, often through the use of corticosteroids. If the cause is infectious, treatment must involve an anti-infective agent. Additional specialists in infectious disease or autoimmunity may be needed for such diseases as syphilis, tuberculosis, AIDS, sarcoidosis, or Behcet's syndrome. Intermediate uveitis is often treated with steroid eye drops, whereas posterior uveitis would have to be treated with steroid pills, as eye drops and ointments cannot reach the back of the eye.