Uveitis after LASIK - Steroid induced High IOP

[alwaleed]

Hi,

I had LASIK on Aug 15. Doctor put me on TobraDex 2 Drops every 2 Hours for the firs day. Second Day he reduced the dosage to 4 drops a day but I mis understood & but 2 drops in each eye 4 times a day. After a week the doctor measured My eye pressure & noted it was a little high. He gave me Alphagan 2 drops a day to control the IOP and asked me to take the topradex 4 times a day for 1 week (one drop each time), then gradually reduce the dosage by one drop every week. By the end of the 4th week I started to have blurred vision & went to see the doctor.

My IOP was 40-Right Eye 42-Left Eye so he told me to stop the Tobradex immediately (I`m a steroid responder which we never knew before)) and gave me TIMOPTOL 2 Drops a day & increased the Alphagan to 3 drops a day.

After 3 days he measured my IOP & it was 10-12. He also noticed the I have developed Uveitis in both my eyes. He said I must take FLUCON 6 times a day to heal the Uveitis & keep taking the other medication to reduce my IOP.

IS this the right course of treatment? is there any other medications (Non-Steroid) to use instead of FUCON? Will my Uveitis take long to heal with this medicine? Will the high IOP for a few weeks cause Glaucoma? The doctor checked my retina & says its OK for now but will it get damaged while I use the steroid?

Thank you,

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

I would suggest either a retina Eye MD or a Eye MD that specializes in uveitis.

JCH MD

[alwaleed]

Thank you for your prompt reply

I was also seen by a Retina Specialist whom was visiting my physician at the time & he also examined my eye & confirmed it was Uveitis

FLUCON is Fluorometholone 0.1%. I remember the Doctor writing FML or FLUCON in the prescription so they might be the same medicine?

I thought Uveitis is a risk factor for LASIK as I have read in numerous sites? I never had it before & to have it in both my eyes soon after the LASIK operation lead me to think it was the cause?

I`m planing on getting a second opinion but shoul I go to a LASIK Specialist or a Retina Specialist?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Lasik should not cause uveitis, nor should the medication, nor should being a steroid responder.

I would suggest you ask for a second opinion.

For uveitis in a steroid responder the options are:  use a special steroid such as vexol, lotemax, FML that is less likely to cause steroid glaucoma, use oral steroids, use non-steroidal inflammatories, use steroid drops and lots of glaucoma medicines.

I don't know what fucon is. Must be a non-USA medicine.

JCH MD