cataracts and uveitis

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tinkerbell73
Posts: 2
Joined: Sat Aug 11, 2007 5:46 pm

cataracts and uveitis

Post by tinkerbell73 »

hello,
this is my forst visit here. Im 25 and live in N.Ireland. I was diagnosed with juvenille arthrutus when i was 4 and still have it. I have had uveitis since age 4 aswell. I have had a flaer up and I am on mydrilate and pred forte and have been for nearly 6 months. I have been told that there is a cataract forming due to the drops. The doctors said they are not worried about this as it is more important to get the uveitis under control.

i have heard from someone else with chroinc iritis that if they remove a catract they dont put a lense back in and you are left blind!! Does anyone know if this is true. Apparently they dont replace the lense due to the inflammation and you can be in severe pain if the lens is put back in.

the person who told me this is getting a cataract removed, she has uveitis and she will be left blind. she is under the impression this is because it is being done through the nhs and it costs them less money not to put the lens back in as you would have to stay in hospital to be monitored if the lens is put back in and this costs the government more money.
Mike Bartolatz
Posts: 6595
Joined: Fri Feb 06, 2004 9:58 pm

Post by Mike Bartolatz »

IRELAND
Dara J Kilmartin MSc FRCSI FRCOpth EOBD
Royal Victoria Eye & Ear Hospital
Adelaide Road, Dublin 2
Telephone +353-1-2135651 Fax +353-1-2135653

William J. Power, MBBCh
Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital
Adelaide Road
Dublin 2
Tel: 353-16785500 Fax: 353-16761858


I suggest that you contact one of the above uveitis specialists there in Ireland.
I am very surprised that you have only been given corticosteroid treatment for Your Juvenile Ideopathic Arthritis. it often responds very well to the DMARD drug, Methotrexate and can get one to REMISSION from uveitis. when one gets older, drugs like Remicade are used along with the Methotrexate to prevent premanent loss of vision.
there is quite a bit of medical literture written here in the USA and in Europe on this topic.
only about 85% of individuals with a history of uveitis have successful cataract surgery.
getting your eyes quiet is of utmost importantance prior to surgery. Many individuals have had successful surgery with a history of chronic or recurrent uveitis and have had Intra Ocular Lenses implanted (I have them).
one can put a contact on the outside of the eye and use glasses if necessary too.
Having someone who does allot of surgery in individuals with Uveitis and is SUCCESSFUL is the key here. one of the above doctors will be able to treat you and address the cataracts properly, I suggest that you 'friend' also see one of them.

Wishing you the very best,
Mike Bartolatz
Mike Bartolatz
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tinkerbell73
Posts: 2
Joined: Sat Aug 11, 2007 5:46 pm

Post by tinkerbell73 »

thanks thats a great help. I have had drops on and off since the age of 4 and these have always quieted the condition for me. I am not too worried at the moment because the cataract is not effecting my vision and the doctors have told me not to worry about it. I also put a cream in my eye at night.

The other person I was talking about has severe iritis and ahe can not see out of the eye, her pupil is blue. I will pas those names on to her thank you.
Mike Bartolatz
Posts: 6595
Joined: Fri Feb 06, 2004 9:58 pm

Post by Mike Bartolatz »

please do pass on the names of the specialists to your friend. it might mean saving her vision by doing so. MODERN treatment with a steroid sparing approach to treatment has successfuly gotten many individuals to remission before complications develop tha are irreversible.
Wishing you the very best,
Mike
Mike Bartolatz
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