Anti-TNF therapy (adalimumab) — Class I recommendation for non-infectious uveitis
Reduces uveitis flares and steroid burden in chronic disease
Key treatment principle
Infectious etiologies must be excluded or treated before initiating immunosuppression
Steroids without antiviral coverage worsens herpetic uveitis
TB must be treated before anti-TNF therapy to prevent reactivation
Patient Discharge Instructions
copy discharge instructions
Diagnosis and overview
You have been diagnosed with iritis (inflammation inside the eye)
This is a condition where the inside of your eye is inflamed and needs treatment
With proper treatment, most cases improve within 4 to 6 weeks
Your medications
Eye drops — topical steroid
Shake the prednisolone bottle well before each use (it is a suspension)
Use as directed — do not skip doses or stop without medical advice
Do NOT stop steroid drops abruptly — must be tapered to prevent rebound
Eye drops — dilating drops (cycloplegic)
These widen your pupil to relieve pain and prevent scarring inside the eye
Your vision will be blurry and you will be sensitive to light — this is expected
Do not drive if your vision is significantly blurred
Follow-up
Urgent ophthalmology (eye doctor) appointment required within 24 to 48 hours
Do not skip this appointment — your eye needs to be checked with a slit lamp
Continue all prescribed drops until instructed otherwise by your eye doctor
Comfort measures
Wear sunglasses outdoors — bright light will be very uncomfortable
Avoid rubbing your eye
Avoid contact lens use until cleared by your ophthalmologist
Return to emergency department immediately for
Worsening eye pain or sudden severe headache
Significant loss of vision or new visual distortion
Increasing redness despite using the drops for 48 hours
Development of fever or feeling generally unwell
New symptoms in the other eye
Seeing halos around lights — this may signal dangerous pressure in the eye
Important information
Iritis can recur — learn to recognize early symptoms (eye pain, redness, light sensitivity)
Seek treatment promptly at the first sign of recurrence
Some cases of iritis are linked to conditions elsewhere in the body (arthritis, bowel disease)
Your doctor may refer you for blood tests or specialist review if this recurs or is severe
References
Guidelines and key sources
Maghsoudlou P, Epps SJ, Guly CM, Dick AD
Uveitis in Adults
JAMA 2025
Primary evidence source for clinical presentation, epidemiology, and management
Angulo MI, Barajas M, Vela M
What Is Uveitis?
JAMA 2025
Patient-oriented overview and diagnostic algorithm
Burkholder BM, Jabs DA
Uveitis for the Non-Ophthalmologist
BMJ 2021
Practical diagnostic and management framework for non-specialists
Sheppard JD, Toyos MM, Kempen JH, Kaur P, Foster CS
Difluprednate 0.05% Versus Prednisolone Acetate 1% for Endogenous Anterior Uveitis: A Phase III, Multicenter, Randomized Study
Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 2014
Evidence for difluprednate noninferior dosing
Grumet P, Kodjikian L, de Parisot A, et al
Contribution of Diagnostic Tests for the Etiological Assessment of Uveitis: ULISSE Study
Autoimmunity Reviews 2018
Diagnostic yield data for HLA-B27, QuantiFERON-TB, CXR
Seve P, Cacoub P, Bodaghi B, et al
Uveitis: Diagnostic Work-Up — Literature Review and Expert Committee Recommendations
Autoimmunity Reviews 2017
Expert committee diagnostic workup guidelines
Leibowitz HM
The Red Eye
New England Journal of Medicine 2000
Classic reference for red eye differential diagnosis and iritis features
Paterson R, Drake B, Tabin G, Cushing T
Wilderness Medical Society Clinical Practice Guidelines for Eye Injuries: 2024 Update
Wilderness and Environmental Medicine 2024
Cycloplegic and anterior chamber management guidance
Harman LE, Margo CE, Roetzheim RG
Uveitis: The Collaborative Diagnostic Evaluation
American Family Physician 2014
Practical workup approach and differential diagnosis framework
El Jammal T, Loria O, Jamilloux Y, et al
Uveitis as an Open Window to Systemic Inflammatory Diseases
Journal of Clinical Medicine 2021
Systemic disease associations and specialist referral pathways
SymptomDx is an educational tool for medical professionals. It does not replace clinical judgment. Verify all clinical data and drug dosages with authoritative sources.