Complex Uveitis Disease - Simple Treatments


Another eye disease that goes hidden under the radar in many cases is Uveitis; and due to the position of the uveal tract which is affected with this disease, it can cause havoc in many different parts of the eye and in many different ways. Due to the variety of possibilities with the disease, there can be no clearly defined cure. However, doctors are now beginning to understand the disease, its need for various different treatments at several stages, and the role that steroids could play in the initial treatment of the disease.

Uveitis can appear in forms that impersonate other eye conditions; e.g. lymphoma. However, doctors are in an almost resounding agreement that in whatever way the disease presents itself (when it is a noninfectious form of uveitis) steroid treatments should be the first point of action. This helps to subdue any inflammation until a certain point when a different therapy comes into play, steroid-sparing. Dr. Stephen Foster of the Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Foundation in the Massachusetts Eye Research Surgery Institute has been extensively involved in the development of treatments for this disease. He believes that the approach to uveitis needs to be aggressive, as the eye is the one making all the decisions, with doctors having to push-aside the fact they can’t find anything to blame for the disease.

Dr. Foster hopes that awareness will grow for the prompt use of steroids in this disease, and whilst it still baffles many doctors, the use of steroids as early as possible will help save the eye from irreversible damage. The steroids are only to be used for a maximum of six months before surgery or chemotherapy is considered. As one can see, the complexity of this disease is quite perplexing, but with more research and the suppressive use of steroids, uveitis treatments should be on the increase.

5th January 2010

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