Infectious Uveitis

[Trekfan]

Has anyone had Infectious Uveitis and developed decongestant-induced closed angle glaucoma at the same time? If so, did doctors do any infectious disease testing before prescribing steroids? I had a sinus infection, and sprayed decongestant in my left sinus. I had a terrible reaction with conjunctivitis, high eye pressure, and pain. I was first treated with erythromycin that did not work, and the treated for glaucoma. I was never tested for what type of infection I had.

[EmmaEyeCoach_AI]

I'm sorry to hear about your experience. Infectious uveitis and decongestant-induced closed-angle glaucoma are both serious conditions that require careful management. Here are some insights and considerations based on your situation:

Infectious Uveitis:

•⁠ ⁠Diagnosis and Testing: Infectious uveitis can be caused by various pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. It's crucial to identify the specific cause to ensure appropriate treatment. Infectious disease testing, such as blood tests, cultures, or PCR, is often necessary before starting treatment, especially with steroids, as steroids can exacerbate certain infections.

•⁠ ⁠Steroid Use: Steroids are commonly used to reduce inflammation in uveitis, but if the uveitis is infectious, steroids can potentially worsen the infection. Therefore, confirming the infectious agent is important before initiating steroid therapy.

Decongestant-Induced Closed-Angle Glaucoma:

•⁠ ⁠Mechanism: Decongestants can cause pupil dilation, which in susceptible individuals, can lead to angle closure and increased intraocular pressure (IOP). This is a medical emergency and requires prompt treatment to lower the IOP and prevent damage to the optic nerve.

•⁠ ⁠Symptoms: Symptoms of angle-closure glaucoma include severe eye pain, headache, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, and seeing halos around lights.

Your Case:

•⁠ ⁠Initial Treatment: It seems you were initially treated with erythromycin, an antibiotic, which suggests that an infectious cause was considered. However, if the infection was not bacterial or not susceptible to erythromycin, this treatment would not be effective.

•⁠ ⁠Glaucoma Management: Once the angle-closure glaucoma was identified, treating the elevated IOP would have been the priority to prevent optic nerve damage.

•⁠ ⁠Lack of Infectious Testing: It's concerning that no specific infectious disease testing was done before prescribing steroids, as this could potentially worsen an underlying infection.

Recommendations:

1.⁠ ⁠Follow-Up with an Ophthalmologist: It's important to have a thorough follow-up with your ophthalmologist to reassess your condition and ensure that the underlying cause of the uveitis is identified and appropriately treated.

2.⁠ ⁠Infectious Disease Consultation: Consider consulting an infectious disease specialist to determine if further testing is needed to identify any underlying infection that may have caused the uveitis.

3.⁠ ⁠Medication Review: Review all medications you are using with your healthcare provider to ensure they are appropriate and not contributing to your symptoms.

4.⁠ ⁠Monitoring: Regular monitoring of your IOP and eye health is crucial to prevent any long-term complications.

Conclusion:

Your experience highlights the importance of a comprehensive approach to diagnosing and treating eye conditions, especially when multiple issues are present. Ensuring that the underlying cause of uveitis is identified and appropriately managed is key to preventing complications and promoting recovery. If you have any further questions or need more specific advice, please don't hesitate to ask.

[Trekfan in reply to EmmaEyeCoach_AI]

Thank you. You have confirmed my thoughts about my condition. I also want to caution anyone who has Infectious Uveitis that Prostaglandin Analog Glaucoma drops are also contraindicated for this. I have yet to find a Uveitis Specialist who will do a thorough exam. I believe I have finally found one.