ABSTRACT
Uveitis and indeed ocular inflammation generally present an unsettling challenge
to the ophthalmologist for many reasons: first, the precise diagnosis of the
inflammatory condition may not be obvious, and thus, the natural outcome of the
disease may be unpredictable, which makes informed discussion with the patient
difficult; second, even if the diagnosis is clear, the best treatment options may not
be obvious, and the risks of treatment may be even less clear; third, even if the
optimal treatment regime for any given patient is evident, most ophthalmologists
are uneasy with the use of modern powerful immunosuppressants, which
constitute the pharmacopoeia for controlling ocular inflammation, and thus, they
usually rely on their physician colleagues to institute and monitor therapy; fourth,
best practice for monitoring treatment is frequently an area of uncertainty since
treatment protocols often have to be tailored to the patient’s condition; finally,
even if all the best advices are available from an expert in management of sight-
threatening ocular inflammation (STOI), the cost of the treatment may be
prohibitive even in developed countries with well funded health services.
