Iritis and Uveitis Follow-up: Further Outpatient Care, Complications, Prognosis
Iritis and Uveitis Follow-up: Further Outpatient Care, Complications, Prognosis
Follow-up care with an ophthalmologist within 24 hours is imperative.
In the acute phase, cases of uveitis are followed every 1-7 days with slit-lamp examination and intraocular pressure measurements.
The ophthalmologist tapers steroids and cycloplegics.
When the condition is stable, patients are monitored every 1-6 months.
A fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant, available from Bausch & Lomb, provides continuous therapy for approximately 30 months.
An acute rise in intraocular pressure secondary to pupillary block (posterior synechiae), inflammation or topical corticosteroid use is the single most important complication.
Examine all patients presenting with a red eye with a slit lamp to detect the presence of cells or flare.
Consider all other causes of a red eyebefore uveitis is diagnosed.
An acute rise in intraocular pressure can lead to optic nerve atrophy and permanent vision loss.
Generally, the prognosis for iritis and uveitis is good with appropriate treatment.
For patient education resources, see the Eye and Vision Center. Also, see the patient education articles Anatomy of the Eye and Iritis.
Keith Tsang, MD Resident Physician, Clinical Assistant Instructor, Department of Emergency Medicine, State University of New York Downstate, Kings County Hospital
Keith Tsang, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, Emergency Medicine Residents' Association
Coauthor(s)
Richard H Sinert, DO Professor of Emergency Medicine, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, Research Director, State University of New York College of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Vice-Chair in Charge of Research, Department of Emergency Medicine, Kings County Hospital Center
Richard H Sinert, DO is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Specialty Editor Board
Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference
Disclosure: Received salary from Medscape for employment. for: Medscape.
Douglas Lavenburg, MD Clinical Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Christiana Care Health Systems
Douglas Lavenburg, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
Chief Editor
Robert E O'Connor, MD, MPH Professor and Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Virginia Health System
Robert E O'Connor, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Association for Physician Leadership, American Heart Association, Medical Society of Delaware, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, Wilderness Medical Society, American Medical Association, National Association of EMS Physicians
Eric M Kardon, MD, FACEP Attending Emergency Physician, Georgia Emergency Medicine Specialists; Physician, Division of Emergency Medicine, Athens Regional Medical Center
Eric M Kardon, MD, FACEP is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Informatics Association, Medical Association of Georgia
Acknowledgements
The authors and editors of Medscape Reference gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous author, Kilbourn Gordon III, MD, to the development and writing of this article.
References
Anatomy of the eye.
Small stellate keratic precipitates with fine filaments in a patient with Fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis.
Table 1. Classification of Uveitis
Further Outpatient Care
Follow-up care with an ophthalmologist within 24 hours is imperative.
In the acute phase, cases of uveitis are followed every 1-7 days with slit-lamp examination and intraocular pressure measurements.
The ophthalmologist tapers steroids and cycloplegics.
When the condition is stable, patients are monitored every 1-6 months.
A fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant, available from Bausch & Lomb, provides continuous therapy for approximately 30 months.
Complications
An acute rise in intraocular pressure secondary to pupillary block (posterior synechiae), inflammation or topical corticosteroid use is the single most important complication.
Examine all patients presenting with a red eye with a slit lamp to detect the presence of cells or flare.
Consider all other causes of a red eyebefore uveitis is diagnosed.
An acute rise in intraocular pressure can lead to optic nerve atrophy and permanent vision loss.
Prognosis
Generally, the prognosis for iritis and uveitis is good with appropriate treatment.
Patient Education
For patient education resources, see the Eye and Vision Center. Also, see the patient education articles Anatomy of the Eye and Iritis.
Keith Tsang, MD Resident Physician, Clinical Assistant Instructor, Department of Emergency Medicine, State University of New York Downstate, Kings County Hospital
Keith Tsang, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, Emergency Medicine Residents' Association
Coauthor(s)
Richard H Sinert, DO Professor of Emergency Medicine, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, Research Director, State University of New York College of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Vice-Chair in Charge of Research, Department of Emergency Medicine, Kings County Hospital Center
Richard H Sinert, DO is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Specialty Editor Board
Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference
Disclosure: Received salary from Medscape for employment. for: Medscape.
Douglas Lavenburg, MD Clinical Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Christiana Care Health Systems
Douglas Lavenburg, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
Chief Editor
Robert E O'Connor, MD, MPH Professor and Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Virginia Health System
Robert E O'Connor, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Association for Physician Leadership, American Heart Association, Medical Society of Delaware, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, Wilderness Medical Society, American Medical Association, National Association of EMS Physicians
Eric M Kardon, MD, FACEP Attending Emergency Physician, Georgia Emergency Medicine Specialists; Physician, Division of Emergency Medicine, Athens Regional Medical Center
Eric M Kardon, MD, FACEP is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Informatics Association, Medical Association of Georgia
Acknowledgements
The authors and editors of Medscape Reference gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous author, Kilbourn Gordon III, MD, to the development and writing of this article.
References
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Anatomy of the eye.
Small stellate keratic precipitates with fine filaments in a patient with Fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis.
- Table 1. Classification of Uveitis
Table 1. Classification of Uveitis
| Type | Primary Site of Inflammation | Includes |
| Anterior uveitis | Anterior chamber | Iritis/iridocyclitis/anterior cyclitis |
| Intermediate uveitis | Vitreous | Pars planitis/posterior cyclitis/hyalitis |
| Posterior uveitis | Choroid | Focal, multifocal, or diffuse choroiditis/chorioretinitis/retinochoroiditis/retinitis/Neuroretinitis |
| Panuveitis | Anterior chamber, vitreous, and/or choroid |
