(1)
St. Johns, FL, USA
(2)
Helen Keller Foundation for Research and Education, International Society of Ocular Trauma, Birmingham, AL, USA
(3)
Consultant and Vitreoretinal Surgeon, Milos Eye Hospital, Belgrade, Serbia
(4)
Consultant and Vitreoretinal Surgeon, Zagórskiego Eye Hospital, Cracow, Poland
Uveitis has many possible etiologies, but whatever the cause, the intraocular consequences1 that can lead to loss of vision are rather similar:
Abnormal IOP, both high and low.
Cataract.2
Vitreous opacity, ranging from floaters to hemorrhage. The debris may get stuck to the lens capsule.
EMP.
ME.
RD: tractional, exudative, occasionally rhegmatogenous.
Traditionally, the treatment is medical: local3 steroids, intravitreal steroid injections and implants, and systemic steroids and immunosuppressive drugs. PPV is often not even listed as an option (and then only as a late, if-all-else-fails choice), although it has tangible benefits:
Yielding a diagnostic specimen.
Removal of the vitreous gel.4
Treatment of virtually all of the coexisting or consequent pathologies (VH, ME, RD etc.).
Reduction in, often complete elimination of, the frequency and severity of the recurrences.
The possibility that the systemic medications, which often have very serious side effects, can be withdrawn or maintained at a reduced dose.5
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