News and Events National Eye Institute NIH study shows two
treatments for uveitis equally effective Results of inflammatory
eye disease research provide better treatment information August
17, 2011 Treating patients with severe cases of uveitis, the
fifth leading cause of vision loss in the United States, either
locally with eye implants or systemically with anti-inflammatory
medications improved vision similarly over two years, according
to researchers. However, the risks of the two treatments and
effects on inflammation were different, they found. Uveitis is a
collection of inflammatory diseases that produce damage to eye
tissue. Severe forms of uveitis, such as intermediate,
posterior, or panuveitis, affect the middle, back, or entire
eye, respectively. Uveitis strikes at an earlier age than many
other leading causes of vision loss, potentially leading to many
years of disability. The report, summarizing results from the
Multicenter Uveitis Steroid Treatment (MUST) Trial, was
published online in Ophthalmol