Medical therapy for uveal effusion syndrome

To report a case series of three patients with bilateral uveal effusion syndrome (UES), treated conservatively with oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors and topical prostaglandin analogues (PAs).

Three patients with bilateral UES were treated with the same initial therapy. Topical PA latanoprost 0.005% and acetazolamide 250 mg were administered in order to reduce intraocular pressure, improve uveoscleral outflow, and facilitate resolution of uveal effusion.

The chorioretinal detachment resolved within 3 months in two reported patients while the third one underwent surgery on his left eye. After clinical improvement, further oral therapy with acetazolamide was stopped, while topical prostaglandins were continued for at least the next 3 months. All patients were free from recurrence during the follow-up period.

Although the usually recommended UES therapy is partial or full-thickness sclerectomy, our case series showed apparent resolution of chorioretinal detachment in two patients on medical therapy alone. Conservative therapy may be the first step before the standard recommended surgical approach, but further studies are needed to verify the effectiveness of reported therapy.