[Secondary glaucoma in uveitis]

Secondary glaucoma represents a frequent complication especially in chronic forms of uveitis. Different immunological and mechanical alterations can be responsible for the elevation of intraocular pressure (IOP). To enable a tailored treatment strategy the diagnostic process has to include the search for characteristic findings which can be indicative for the underlying uveitis entity. Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish inflammatory glaucoma from primary non-inflammatory forms of glaucoma as well as from steroid-induced elevation of IOP. Treatment of secondary glaucoma due to uveitis has to include not only medicinal and surgical lowering of IOP but also control of the inflammation, e.g. by immunosuppressive or antiviral drugs. Under normal conditions, beta-receptor antagonists and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors will represent first-line topical treatment. Besides cyclodestructive and filtrating procedures, the use of drainage implants has gained importance in the surgical treatment of secondary glaucoma due to intraocular inflammation.