Uveitis - Treatment

Treatment

Uveitis is typically treated with glucocorticoid steroids, either as topical eye drops (prednisolone acetate) or oral therapy with corticosteroids. Prior to the administration of corticosteroids, corneal ulcers must be ruled out. This is typically done using a fluoresence dye test. In addition to corticosteroids, topical cycloplegics, such as atropine or homatropine, may be used. Successful treatment of active uveitis will see an increase in T-regulatory cells in the eye which is likely to contribute to disease regression. In some cases an injection of PSTTA (posterior subtenon triamcinolone acetate) may also be given to reduce the swelling of the eye.

Antimetabolite medications, such as methotrexate are often used for recalcitrant or more aggressive cases of uveitis. Experimental treatments with Infliximab or other anti-TNFs' infusions may prove helpful.

On May 7, 2012 the journal investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science stated that "Metformin inhibits the process that causes that inflammation". The scientists believe that it has a good chance of being rapidly adopted as an anti-uveitis drug, since Metformin is already used so widely as a therapy for diabetes.

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