Oral steroids may cause
acidity, mild stomach pain,
increase in weight,
acne or
pimples, and can rarely
induce diabetes, hypertension, osteoporosis
(rarefaction of the bone), nervousness, depression.
Women in the reproductive age group, are advised to
avoid pregnancy (can
use contraceptive devices) while on treatment with
oral steroids or immunosuppressives.
If you have to undergo any surgery while you are on
steroid therapy, please inform your doctor about
this.
Cytotoxic immunosuppressive drugs like
Azathiopic,
Endoxan,
Methotrexate interfere
with the basic metabolic process of the body and
many of them cause bone marrow suppression, thereby
decreasing the blood counts.
Patients on immunosuppressive drugs
(Azathiopic,
Endoxan,
methotrexate) must have weekly blood tests
done while on treatment. If the blood counts fall
(total
WBC count goes below 3000/cu mm and / or
platelet count goes below
100000/cu mm or in case of any infection) the immunosuppressive drugs
have to be stopped and the physician should be
consulted immediately.
Will Uveitis recur?
In many cases, yes. The frequency and severity of
the recurrences are unpredictable. Consulting your
ophthalmologist on noticing the earliest signs of
recurrence will make treatment easier and lead to
resolution of uveitis more quickly.
Can Uveitis develop complications?
Uveitis patients can develop complications like
cataract,
glaucoma, (i.e.
raised intraocular pressure) and
macular oedema. These can cause
reduction of vision. Such complications can be managed
medically or surgically once the inflammation is controlled.
Can Uveitis cause visual loss?
With the modern diagnostic methods, better medications and
surgical techniques, the visual outcome for the vast
majority of the uveitis patients is often very good. But it
is important that uveitis cases should be identified early
and treated adequately. It is also important for a uveitis
patient
to get his or her eyes checked up periodically even if there
are no symptoms.
