Uveitis/OID is the Third Leading Cause of Blindness

By C. Stephen Foster, MD, FACS, FACR

Did you know that Uveitis/OID is the third leading cause of blindness in developed countries? It is the third leading cause of blindness because patients are left on chronic steroid therapy, which causes vision-robbing problems of glaucoma and cataract, or their inflammation does not completely control them. Chronic low-grade or severe inflammation will cause macular edema, optic nerve damage, glaucoma, cataract, synechiae, and other vision-robbing complications.

The American Uveitis Society developed guidelines for care that involve a step ladder approach to treatment, moving patients from steroids. Such therapies include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, immunosuppressive chemotherapy, or biologics when the drug categories fail to prevent unnecessary blindness.

Click here to listen to Uveitis and Steroid-Sparing Therapy

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