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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffThe main goals in treating iritis are to preserve vision and relieve any pain associated with the condition.
Most often, treatment for iritis involves:
- Steroid eyedrops. Glucocorticoid medications, given as eyedrops, reduce inflammation associated with iritis. They work by stabilizing cell membranes in your eye and minimizing the circulation of white blood cells and other byproducts of the inflammatory process.
- Dilating eyedrops. Cycloplegics are medicines that dilate your pupil. Given as eyedrops, they can reduce pain associated with iritis. Dilating eyedrops also protect you from developing adhesions underneath your iris, which can lead to potential complications, including glaucoma.
If your symptoms don't clear up, or seem to get worse, your eye doctor might prescribe oral medications that may include steroids or other anti-inflammatory agents. However, taking the medicine orally has the potential to affect not only your eyes, but other parts of your body as well. Your doctor will consider your overall condition before prescribing oral medications to treat your iritis.
- Care of the patient with anterior uveitis. St. Louis, Mo.: American Optometric Association. http://www.aoa.org/documents/CPG-7.pdf. Accessed Jan. 7, 2009.
- Cunningham ET Jr. Uveal tract. In: Riordan-Eva P, et al. Vaughan & Asbury's General Ophthalmology. 17th ed. United States: McGraw-Hill Companies; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3091280. Accessed Jan. 7, 2009.
- Forster DJ. General approach to the uveitis patient and treatment strategies. In: Yanoff M, et al. Ophthalmology. 2nd ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby, Inc.; 2004. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/116823936-3/0/1197/69.html?tocnode=50823224&fromURL=69.html. Accessed Jan. 7, 2009.
- Jacobs DS. Evaluation of the red eye. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 7, 2009.
- Rosenbaum JT. Uveitis: Etiology; clinical manifestations; and diagnosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 7, 2009.
- Rosenbaum JT. Uveitis: Treatment. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 7, 2009.
