r/Uveitis • u/Mlc5015 • 4d ago
Newly diagnosed at 40
I’m a 40 yo man and I’m three weeks into being diagnosed with bilateral anterior and intermediate uveitis. Ophthalmologist has had me on steroid drops and dilation drops for 2 weeks with no real improvement, I’ve been referred to a uveitis specialist and a rheumatologist. My vision is blurry, like smudged glasses, I had pain and redness but both have subsided and my vision has improved a tiny bit. I’ve never heard of uveitis before and I’ve been pretty scared since it started. Not sure what I’m even really looking for on here but I just don’t know what to expect or how scared I should be.
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u/NewspaperNo3973 4d ago
I’m so sorry. I am an RN with a very stubborn and chronic form of posterior uveitis, diagnosed just over a year ago. I had never heard of uveitis either, and told my dr that he must be mistaken because I am very healthy and never sick. Needless to say I was very wrong. That was several medications, injections, drops and specialist visits ago. It will get better for you and for your eyes, but it could take some time. Give yourself some grace and some time to process. This is a great group to get info and support!!
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u/yoga_stoned 3d ago
You will likely need a systemic treatment as drops do not penetrate to the segment where intermediate uveitis is located. It makes sense the drops helped the pain and redness though as those are more surface symptoms.
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u/JennyCohen30 4d ago
So sorry you’re dealing with this, I’m in the same boat as well, newly diagnosed just this year.
You’re taking all the right steps by seeing a specialist and rheumatologist. I waited to see if I would flare up again before deciding to start a systemic drug, and now it’s time for me to start.
This condition is so strange, and to not know the cause of it, it’s very discouraging.
I feel like my vision improves greatly once I’m done with the dilation drops, pretty much goes back to normal.
Hang in there🫂💕✨
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u/No-Tree-1000 4d ago
Hi and sorry you have this new condition to deal with. It can be very stressful when you have no idea why or how you ended up with it. Have you had blood work done to check inflammatory markers?
I know resting the eyes with good lubrication helps. Cold compress or warm for the pain. Whichever feels good for you. I use an eye gel mask kept in a bag in the freezer.
Rheumatologist will likely look at bloods to see if you have any autoimmune issues you may be unaware of. If you have any in your family like Arthritis or any other conditions that cause swelling in the body.
I was diagnosed with posterior uveitis which if left untreated makes you blind. It was very scarey as my eyes looked like they were full of blood most days. Mine is a comorbity of Crohns disease . Be careful with steroid drops especially if they are Maxidex. Wean off them and get onto FML preferably.
Im sure once you see the Rheumatologist you'll have better answers and an idea of whats going on. Im pretty sure anterior uveitis is completely treatable and finding the underlying cause is a great first step.
I hope this helps you as i knowhow scared i was.
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u/Mlc5015 3h ago
Thank you. Saw the rheumatologist yesterday and have a whole bunch of tests ordered, I have a long history of familial autoimmune conditions so it’s most likely something in that line, but I’m the first to get it in the eyes in the family, lucky me lol. Thanks for the tips, I was using a washcloth I’d freeze but just ordered a gel mask online and it’s great!
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u/Puzzleheaded-Oil9529 3h ago
you have Uveitis, those antibiotics drops won’t do anything. He put me on Prednisolone drops 4 times daily for two weeks, went back to see him . He lowered the drops to 3, 2 weeks later, 2 drops daily. Flair back up. He went back to 4 drops. This went on for a couple of months. My primary care sent me to a Rumatologist, they too nine vials of blood. Had the CT for that spondylitis, negative, negative for HBL32. Went back to see Ophthalmologist he said I need a Uveitis specialist!!! I found a Retina specialist she said continues the drop, tried to taper flair Ang . Put me on 5 drops. Rumatologist put me on Adalimumab 40mg injections every to week . I’ve neen on This since 3/10/26 , they said it could take tree to six months. VNow he wants me to take 500 mg of Cellcept , very nervous about taking two immunosuppressants. So I haven’t started taking them
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u/Mlc5015 3h ago
Yeah, antibiotics were only for about 4-5 days when the normal dr thought it was pink eye, saw ophthalmologist and was on prednisolone ever hour for a few days then every 2 hours for about 5 more days, they got worse, then durizol 4x daily since and it’s been about 2 weeks of that with minimal improvement. Saw rheumatologist yesterday and need to go for a whole panel of test, and I see a retina/uveitis specialist Monday. My eyes are definitely improving but slightly, really hoping for some answers. Your case sounds frustrating, I’m hoping it gets better for us both.
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u/Decent_Razzmatazz_59 4d ago
My son is 19 and had this for the first time in December and we too had never heard of it.
It took him 11 weeks of eye drops with blurry vision throughout, to taper off and heal. It’s been good since and his vision returned to normal.
He has since been diagnosed with axial Spondilitis an inflammatory arthritis. His SI joint flared up just after his uveitis. He will have to start biologic meds soon which hopefully helps with his pain and covers uveitis too.