Uveitis daughter with cronic uveitis for 10 years

[rebennett04]

my daughter has had uveitis for 10 years both eyes had cateracts have inplants since age 8 she is 19, now ,fForr past 2 years has secondary cateract in same eye at least 4 times every time we yag laser her  seems like with in 2 weeks its clouding up again ?  how often can you be laserd for this also on 30 mg methotrexate  400 mg  remicade iv treatment for 2 years now still hard to control any sugestion  i know the imflamation is what clouds it up and also her vision with glasses is pretty good considering the damage this cronic condition  had done before we even knew she had a problem she was almost blind virtualy from the cateracts oh she also has glaucoma in one eye with an amid valve  to control pressures most all of her extensive surgerys were performed in iowa city hospital

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

Sometimes "giant cells" which are immune cells can build up on the IOL and a yag laser can be used to dust them off.  In this situation, the yag is using very low power and not really cutting or breaking up anything but rather dusing off the cells that cloud the IOL.  Usually chronic use of steroid drops can help to slow the giant cell buildup but I suspect that is already been done.  Unfortunately for now, this method using the yag, seems to be the only help in her case and it may  need to be done many times, possibl.  Oral and sometimes even injection, immune drugs for the RA are usually quite helpful in these cases as well as the proper drops.  It's all an imperfect solution to a very difficult problem.  In the end she should be seen at the University of Iowa Ophthalmology Department since it is one of the very best in the world.

[rebennett04]

hello again seems the higher dose of remicade has helped with the imflamation she will be laser again before xmas and we will see how that goes  just want to say that your response to my ?s are very reasuring that we have been doing the correct thing and you are 100% correct iowa university is a very wounderful place cant even imagine what we would have done with out them from the begining of this, if you will  nightmare  her eye pressures seem to be steady around 15 so that a good thing  imflamation is way down from past appointments its just a very unpredictable thing and most people dont understand      thanks for your time again

[rebennett04]

dr we went to iowa for the first 7 years dr keach is who worked with us regretfuly he passed away with an illness , currently see dr steven sicher at illinois eye intitute in peoria il. imflamation seems to be getting better as the dose of remicade has been increased and is also on methotrexate 20 mg  the shots in the eye dont seem to work any suggestions ? also on the predforte eye drops seems this has been difucult for her to control for over a year now.