Uveitis: advances in understanding of pathogenesis and treatment

Uveitis is a leading cause of blindness affecting individuals of all ages, genders, and races. Uveitis may be due to autoimmune, infectious, toxic, malignant, or traumatic processes. Some evidence supports an association between conditions previously presumed to be autoimmune and viral infectious agents. For autoimmune uveitis, therapy is nonspecific, typically beginning with corticosteroids. For nonresponsive disease or for corticosteroid sparing, recent reports on mycophenolate mofetil, infliximab, and interferon therapy show success for various forms of uveitis. Treatment of the complications of uveitis, especially cystoid macular edema, is difficult. Vitamin E appears to offer little benefit, whereas octreotide may be effective. Recent collaborative efforts at standardization in the field should enhance studies on these conditions.