Uveitis

Even though there may not be any permanent cure for Uveitis, each attack can be treated, depending upon the cause, severity and location of the inflammation. The treatment may include eye drops, injections under the eye or oral medication.

The most commonly prescribed eye drops relieve the muscles inside the eye and help to dilate the pupil, temporarily paralysing the sphincter muscles to relieve the pain. This may cause some difficulty in near vision and increase the feeling of glare in bright light. Patients are advised to use dark glasses while going out in the day.

To control inflammation, steroids may be given in the form of drops, injections around the eye or tablets. At such times, a depot steroid injection is used, which causes a slow release of the drug into the eye. The drug usually lasts for several weeks.

When the inflammation is extensive or severe, oral drugs such as steroids and immunosuppressive drugs are needed. These drugs have potential side effects, but they are often not serious and their effects are reversible, once treatment is discontinued.

Important advice about Medication

• Please take the medicines as advised by the doctor; do not start or stop the medication on your own. If you are on oral steroid therapy and have to undergo any surgery, please inform your doctor. If you have taken oral steroids for more than two weeks, do not stop suddenly, as this could have serious problems.
  
• Keep your medication where you can see it easily.
  
• Schedule your medications around your daily routine, like when you wake uo in the morning, at meal times or at bedtime.
  
• If you forget to use your eye drops, use them as soon as you remember, instead of waiting till the next scheduled time. Then get back on schedule for the next dose.
  
• Watch out for side effects like changes in vision. Inform your doctor immediately about them or on your next appointment. Schedule your check-ups regularly.
  
• When consulting doctors for other problems, tell them about the medicines that you are using. Eye medications can affect other parts of the body too.