fed up with uveitis - Eye & Vision Message Board

shellieb1 · 09-06-2003, 04:26 AM

Hi, I am nearly forty and fed up with reoccuring uveitis, the attack started in 1995 and over the years happen every six months, Ihave been on severel combinations of eye drops sometimes three at a time and had two stays in hospital, two injections into the eye and still have the attacks am in the middle of one now..fed up.. I am getting a little worried about the loss of sight that I have had i now have to wear varifocals all of the time as i am useless without them and my job depends on my eyes when dispensing medicines, are the drops to blame for this throught use , I find after each attack that once the drops have worn off usually after two to three months use i have even less sight than before is this normal with uveitis. I have recently been told i have HLA b2+, does this mean i will always have this problem and what can i do to help the situation...thank you shellie

imAtruffle · 09-07-2003, 12:02 AM

the modern treatment for uveitis consists of low dose immunomodulatory agents for chronic inflammation. if you are hla-b27 positive you must have an underlying condition of a form of arthritis? the relationship between the two are well documented. if i were in your shoes i would seek treatment from an ophthalmologist who has done a fellowship in uveitis and a rheumatologist to get aggressive treatment for the uveitis as it can lead to blindness. also the long term use of steriod in any form can promote cataract or glaucoma. oh yeah, i have been in your shoes. best of luck

shellieb1 · 09-07-2003, 02:38 PM

Thank you for your reply..have been to a specialist who cannot find anything wrong with my joints and has dismissed me from his clinic for the moment. Have just been given a different course of drops today was on pred forte and mydrilate now on atropine, pred forte half hourly and betnesol n ointment at night..this has been going on since 95 but no one has a clue what is triggering it..thank you for your reply nice to chat with someone who understands..hope you are not having too many problems, how did you get to see someone with more experience in uveitis..was it through your GP? would be gratefull for any imformation...shellie

imAtruffle · 09-07-2003, 07:37 PM

there are many ppl with JRA, AS, etc that don't have much if any problems with the arthritis yet the uveitis is chronic or vise versa. it's good news that you do not have to deal with the pain associated with the arthritis as well, especially since your uveitis is so problematic.

due to the nature of this board i can't give you names of doctors or clinics, however i do know several ppl from the UK that are getting treatment from excellent ocular immunologists in your general area. i am sure most of the search engines will turn up results for you on the modern treatment of uveitis and ocular immunology.

unfortunately i had to do the research myself to find the right doctors and treatment for my eyes as i had been told for years there wasn't much to be done for my situation. what a wonderful tool the internet is

it truely is great to be able to communicate with others that are dealing with this vision threatening disease who can understand that not all floaters are harmless. i am a member at a couple of uveitis support groups that have helped make dealing with it easier. take care

imAtruffle · 09-09-2003, 03:06 PM

there is supposed to be some kind of public speach at mooresfield's on the subject of uveitis nov. 8th.