Ocular Inflammation

Uveitis & Ocular Immunology Service provides a multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of ocular inflammatory disease and other infectious disorders. Madurai Eye Center deals with a wide range of ocular inflammatory conditions some of which result in significant ocular morbidity and are estimated to account for 5%-15% of blindness. Common ocular inflammations seen in our department include:

HLA-B27 related anterior uveitis
Fuch’s heterochromic iridocyclitis
Posner schlossman syndrome
Intermediate uveitis
Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome
Ocular infections such as acute and chronic endophthalmitis
Toxoplasmosis chorioretinitis
Tuberculosis uveitis

Our department also provides advanced diagnostic and therapeutic options including:

Fluorescein Angiography
Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT)
Fundus Autofluorescence
Ultrasonography B-scan
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for microbes
HLA phenotyping
A wide range of blood biochemistry, immunology and serology investigations
Microbiology investigations for urgent diagnosis in severe infective cases such as endophthalmitis

With polymerase chain reaction (PCR), our eye doctors are capable of aspirating as little as a drop (0.2ml) of aqueous humour from the eye and using it to detect the presence of viral and fungal DNA. This enables us to discover underlying disease conditions in patients that were previously unrecognised. Among this group of patients, the underlying diagnosis includes:

CMV uveitis
VZV uveitis
HSV uveitis
Toxoplasma Uveitis
Tuberculosis

To ensure holistic care, our doctors work closely with colleagues in infectious disease and rheumatology to ensure our patients receive comprehensive care.

Treatment

Treatment for uveitis is often prolonged. For mild cases of uveitis, NSAID eye drops are prescribed, while for severe cases topical steroid eye drops are the preferred option. In case of sight-threatening conditions, we may need to prescribe very strong medications such as steroid tablets and anti-cancer drugs that suppress our immune system (immunosuppressants).

The use of these medications requires careful monitoring to make sure our patients are receiving the appropriate dose whilst not suffering from any serious side effects.

Our doctors are trained in administering these medications and our nursing staff counsel and communicate closely with patients should they have urgent queries.

Diffuse Scleritis before and after immunosuppressant therapy

Surgery

Severe and prolonged ocular inflammation may cause complications in the eye, such as secondary cataract and glaucoma. Surgery may be necessary in such cases. Dealing with these complicated cases requires expertise and experience, both in controlling the overall inflammation status and in surgical technique.
Our specialist doctors are trained in retinal surgery and complex cataract surgery, we have successfully managed many patients with uveitis who required cataract, glaucoma and retinal surgery.