How long does it take to recover from Uveitis?

Question

I have been suffering from it for nearly 2 weeks. And have been taking me prescribed medication as ordered to. The joint doctors are now saying I may have other imflammation somewhere in my joints, is this to worry about or all will be under control? Thanks heaps.

Answer 1

Hi Ciceri.

Sometimes uveitis can be difficult to control, especially if you have another systemic inflammatory process going on in your joints. And once the uveitis is controlled, sometimes an anti-inflammatory medication needs to be used to keep the flares from returning, which is quite common in uveitis, especially when combined with rheumatologic (inflammatory joints) processes.

Many of the immunosuppressive medications used for inflammatory joint diseases also help with uveitis, so work very closely with your rheumatologist and your eye doctor and have the two of them work together to find a treatment to help keep both your uveitis and joint inflammation under control.

Many uveitis patients that are seen by the uveitis specialist in my office also have simultaneous rheumatologic conditions (systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory arthritis) and my uveitis specialist works very closely with local rheumatologists to help the patient achieve and sustain both uveitis inflammation and systemic inflammation.

If you do have hard to control uveitis, your optometrist will likely refer you to a specialist. Expect frequent visits every 1-3 months until your uveitis is under control and every 3-6 months after that to watch for sustained remission and/or early signs of flares. For your inflammatory joint condition, you will most likely see your rheumatologist every 3-6 months until that is under control, and for lab work to closely watch for sustained remission and for the potential causes of both inflammatory conditions.

It may take a while to find the right dosing of your anti-inflammatory medications.

Answer 2

This is really one for your doctors, as the answer will depend on your particular case.

About 50% of cases of uveitis/iritis don't have any discoverable underlying cause, and can clear up with medication in 2-5 weeks, but it can drag on for months.
An eye that's had uveitis is more prone to recurrent attacks, but they are far from inevitable.

In the other half of cases, some more general condition is detected to which the uveitis is connected:
Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus, Lyme disease, for just a few examples. There are lots, some serious, some not so serious.

The likely course there, and treatment, is going to depend on the diagnosis.
The best thing to think is: whatever it is, they're on to it.

Sorry I can't do better.

Answer 3

Uveitis is a general term that refers to inflammation or swelling of the eye's structures responsible for its blood supply... It is usually lilfelong... The severity depends on the underlying etiology...